December 31, 2018

Many of us are willing to invest time and money into keeping our body healthy and in the best possible condition. Yet, despite relying on our eyesight more than any other sense, far fewer of us extend this courtesy to our eyes. Since they are so delicate, our eyes require special care and consideration if they are to remain healthy. Failure to do so could see us developing problems such as eye pain, headaches and migraines, watery eyes and even blurred vision.

By taking care of your eyes, you can feel reassured that you are doing everything you can to preserve your vision for as long as possible. Here are some of our best tips for proactive eye care.
 

Protecting your eyes

Many of us don’t think twice about putting on sunscreen when we go outside on a sunny day or using protective clothing when we feel that our bodies might be at risk. However, it is important to remember that our eyes need protecting too. Even a slight amount of damage to our eyes can be irreversible and adversely affect our vision.

You almost certainly know that exposure to UV rays without protection can burn your skin. What you may not know however is that UV light can also cause significant damage to the delicate tissue of your eyes. Studies have found that persistent exposure to sunlight makes eye problems such as macular degeneration, cataracts and even some cancers much more likely. Fortunately, it is fairly easy to protect your eyes from UV damage. Simply purchase good quality sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection. UV damage doesn’t only occur during brilliant sunlight, it can also happen on days that are simply bright. Wear your sunglasses as much as possible for the best protection.
 

Give up smoking

There are lots of different health reasons why you should consider giving up smoking. Here is another – quitting can also improve your eye health. Research has shown that patients who smoke are more likely to develop eye problems including cataracts and macular degenerations, both of which can cause vision loss.
 

Limit screen time

The modern world is largely dominated by screens, be it a work computer or laptop, a tablet, a smartphone or even a television. Most of us already realize that excessive screen time isn’t good for the health and wellbeing of our eyes. Some of the effect of prolonged screen usage include headaches, migraines, watery eyes and dry eye syndrome. Many people are developing near-sightedness (myopia) earlier than before – something that experts put down to increased screen time. However, knowing that using screens isn’t good for our eyes doesn’t make it easy to cut back, particularly if your work relies on them. If you can’t cut back on your screen time, you should at least make sure that you are taking regular breaks for your eyes to adjust and relax. Look away from the screen for at least 5 minutes every hour and instead focus your attention on something much further away. This enables your eyes to get away from screen glare and refocus on something in the distance which will allow them to relax properly.
 

Eat for eye health!

What we put into our bodies doesn’t just affect our overall health. It can also contribute to the condition and function of our eyes. A healthy, balanced and nutritious diet is recommended for overall wellbeing, but there are certain foods that have shown to be particularly beneficial for our eyes. These include:

-         Brightly colored fruits and veggies, including carrots, tomatoes, peppers, blueberries and avocado

-         Eggs, nuts and other non-meat protein sources

-         Green, leafy vegetables such as sprouts, spinach and kale

-         Citrus fruits and juices

-         Oysters, salmon, tuna and other oily fish

Try and incorporate these into your usual meals for an extra boost to your eye health.

If you would like more tips on the best way to take care of your eyes, please don’t hesitate to contact our Houston, TX office. We would be delighted to assist you, or arrange you an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam with our expert eye doctor.