Good eye care habits and hygiene can help you prevent many vision-related problems. Our eyes naturally become more vulnerable to infection and diseases with age. So the best thing we can do is to develop hygiene conscious habits to keep our eyes and vision safe.
Here are 12 tips for your Optimal Eye Health:
1. Avoid rubbing your eyes
If you have an allergy it’s common to have itchy eyes. Though rubbing your eyes may bring temporary relief it will harm your eyes in the long run and lead to infection. Especially if you wear lenses, rubbing your eye can be even more dangerous as it can dislodge or even break the lens scratching the cornea. So, never rub your eyes.
2.Regularly wash your hands
Germs and bacteria through unclean hands may cause many eye infections like Conjunctivitis. You can prevent this problem by frequently washing your hands. Make sure to wash your hands with mild soap and dry them before touching your eyes especially before inserting and removing your lenses.
3.Beware of UV rays
Exposing your eyes to UV rays increases the risk of developing macular degeneration and corneal sunburn. Sunglasses can protect your eyes from UV rays along with providing great style. Talk to your doctor about the options available for prescribed sunglasses.
4.Stay hydrated
Hydration is important for your eyes along with overall health. Staying hydrated helps your eye to produce enough tears to keep your eyes moist. Dehydration can cause dry eyes so stay hydrated to avoid dry eyes syndrome.
5.Don’t smoke cigarettes
Smokers have a much higher risk of developing serious eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts than nonsmokers. Smoking can destroy the optic nerves of your eye leading to permanent vision loss. So quit smoking today to not only save your lungs but also to save your vision.
6.Eat a healthy diet
Try to include fruits, vegetables especially leafy greens in your daily diet. As these are rich in antioxidants, Vitamins A and C which are essential for your eye health. Moreover, fish like salmon also contain essential omega-3 fatty acids which are great for your eyes.
7.Keep a healthy distance from screens
Nowadays we can not stay away from the screen but with some measures, you can minimize the damage over screen time causes to your eyes. Place your computer monitor an arm’s length away and 20 degrees below your eye level to avoid digital eye strain. Also, make sure there is sufficient light in the room so there is less stress on your eyes.
8.Remember the 20-20-20 rule
Another great way to avoid eye strain is to follow the 20-20-20 rule. This rule suggests, every 20 minutes you look at an object for 20 seconds that is 20 feet away from you. This is a great way to rest your eyes. You can also try blinking 20 times in succession along with the 20-20-20 rule to prevent digital strain and dry eyes.
9.Be careful with eye make-up
Makeup if contacted with the eye can cause a serious infection. So, remove makeup before going to bed as the residual make-up left in the eye area can build up bacteria and cause infection. Moreover, wash your make-up brushes regularly and replace your makeup every 3 months as makeup can produce bacteria with time.
10.Sleep is Important for the Eyes too
Regular 8 hours of sleep is not only good for your health, but it also helps your eyes get revitalized. So, don’t compromise with a good amount of sound sleep on a regular basis.
11.Wear protective eyewear
Make sure to wear protective eyewear suitable for the task you are doing. Wear goggles while swimming to prevent chlorine from harming your eyes, wear safety glasses to keep dust particles and bacteria away while working in a garden or DIY project, and also make sure to wear protective eyewear while playing any sport.
12.Regularly visit your eye doctor
Never underestimate the importance of a regular eye check-up as many serious eye diseases such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, etc don’t show obvious symptoms in the beginning. A comprehensive eye exam can detect these diseases and save your vision with proper treatment. Besides, your vision keeps changing with time, so it’s always good to get checked if your prescription needs any modification.
Now you know why taking care of your eyes is so cruel with age. If you are a woman, you should be more careful as women’s eye health is much more vulnerable than men’s.
If you have any questions about eye care or looking for eye exam, contact us at Advanced Eye Clinic to book a comprehensive eye exam today. We offer eye care services in Watauga, Keller, Fort Worth, North Richland, Texas.
