By far the most sensitive and indeed, definitely one of the most important, organs of the human body are the eyes, and as well as the obvious provision of the ability to see, making sure you look after your eyes will also help you to avoid a myriad of other issues further down the line.
So, in an attempt to help you improve your own eyes and eyesight care, here are the top five ways to make sure that you never take your eyes for granted.
Always Use Appropriate Safety Eyewear
If your job requires you to work with heavy machinery, or else, for example, involves being outside and around dust, debris, and dirt on a regular basis, it’s essential to ensure you’re wearing the appropriate PPE and safety eyewear.
Not only do you need to apply this rule at work, but goggles and other high-quality eye protection is also an important part of contact sports, such as racquetball, ice hockey and lacrosse, all of which can lead to serious and permanent eye injury.
Stop Smoking Immediately
You obviously don’t need to read this article to know that smoking, whether it’s cigarettes or cigars, is hugely dangerous for your body, especially as you become older, and that smoking is not only harmful to yourself, but also to the people around you.
When concentrating specifically on eyecare, however, you may not be aware of how smoking can contribute to a notable loss of vision and in some cases, total blindness. Smoking can damage the macula, the most delicate part of the retina and the part responsible for sharp and clear vision, as well as the lens and the entirety of the retina itself.
Take Breaks Away from Your Computer Screen
In the modern world, where various pieces of technology play such a significant role in the vast majority of people’s daily lives, this exposure to harmful blue light emanating from mobile phone screens, tablets, and computers has led to increase in eye issues.
Staring at a screen for an extended period of time without regular breaks can contribute to headaches and migraines, neck, shoulder, and back pain, and dry eyes, as well as blurred vision, eyestrain, and even a reduction in the ability to focus on objects further away.
If your job means that you’re unable to avoid the use of computer screens every working day, then there are several steps to take, in addition to taking regular breaks, that will serve to help, including the following:
- Use artificial tears if your eyes feel dry, irritated, and/or itchy
- Make sure the monitor and screen are level with your eyes
- Speak to your medical doctor about special computer or blue light glasses
- Ensure your contact lenses and glasses prescriptions are up to date
- Avoid prolonged glare from windows inside your office
See Your Optometrist Regularly
Just in the same way that you (hopefully, anyway) make regular appointments with your dentist to ensure your oral health and hygiene is on point, so too should you be making the effort to see your eye doctor, especially if you’re experiencing a change in the quality or accuracy of your vision.
Prestigious businesses like Andover Family Optometry are absolutely the best people to contact, if you’re experiencing a problem with your eyesight, as they’re able to provide an unrivalled level of expertise, knowledge, and technological innovations in order to accurately assess your eyes.
Regular eye exams are also important, and a thorough exam will include the following elements, as a bare minimum:
- A discussion of relevant family and personal medical history
- Tests for astigmatism, presbyopia, and whether you are farsighted or nearsighted
- Checks for glaucoma and the presence of cataracts
- Microscopic and external exams both after and before pupil dilation
Make Sure You’re Eating the Right Foods
Finally, just as the healthier your diet is, the more functional your internal organs are, so too can the types of foods you consume make a huge impact on the quality of your eyesight and the overall condition of your eyes.
There are numerous beneficial vitamins and minerals to maintain healthy eyesight contained in cold water fish, such as tuna, sardines, and mackerel, as well as a plethora of fruit and vegetables, such as bell peppers, blueberries, leeks, spinach, kale, and peaches.
In addition, drinking more water on a daily basis will also help to support the tear ducts in your eyes and help to prevent dry eyes.
