Getting an eye exam is easy and painless, and it’s the best thing you can do for your eye health. Your eyes are an important part of your health. Most people rely on their eyes to see and understand the world around them. However, certain eye conditions can cause vision loss, so early detection and treatment of eye conditions are important. If you have any new vision problems, you should check your eyes frequently as recommended by your healthcare provider. Just as it’s important to keep your body healthy, you need to keep your eyes healthy too. Even if your eyes feel healthy, you may have a problem and don’t know it. That’s because many eye diseases have no symptoms or warning signs. In this article, we’ll be discussing the different ways to take care of your eyes.
Have a balanced diet
Good eye health starts with the food on your plate. Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E may help prevent age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
Wear sunglasses
Sun exposure can damage your eyes and increase your risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Know your family’s medical history
Some eye diseases are inherited, so it is important to know if anyone in your family has them. This can help you determine if you are at higher risk for eye disease.
Use protective eyewear
You need eye protection when doing certain factory and construction work, and even when doing repairs or projects at home. Sports such as ice hockey, squash, and lacrosse can also cause eye injuries. A helmet with a face shield or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses will help protect your eyes.
Take a break from screen time
If you spend a lot of time on your computer or phone, you may forget to blink and get tired eyes. To reduce eye strain, try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet for 20 seconds.
Have a regular eye checkup
Everyone needs a vision test to check for vision and eye problems. Children usually have vision exams at the school or in the health care provider’s office during the exam period. Adults may also undergo vision screening during the exam. But many adults need more than vision screening.
Quit smoking
Smoking increases the risk of developing age-related eye diseases, such as macular degeneration and cataracts, and can damage the optic nerve.
Other things you can do to take care of your eyes:
- Make sure your glasses or contact lens prescription is up to date
- Wash your hands before putting on or removing contact lenses. Also, follow the instructions on how to properly clean them and replace them if needed.
- As you age, you have a higher risk of developing age-related eye diseases and conditions. Knowing your risk factors is important because you can reduce your risk by changing certain behaviors.
