Posted by We visit the optometrist once per year to ensure we can read thanks to glasses, but there’s more to eye care than that. In fact, how much do you really know about caring for your eyes? If it isn’t much, check out the tips below to learn all you can today.
If your eyes are irritated by pollen or feel dry, use an eyewash. The eyewash can rinse your eyes of the impurities and make them feel more refreshed. Follow instructions on the package carefully. After the eyewash, your eyes should feel much better. Use the product a couple of times a day or as directed.
You should try eating a proper diet to better care for your eyes. A good diet for maintaining eye health should include items that contain zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, vitamin C, and vitamin E. To get these nutrients, try eating items like dark leafy greens, oily fish, eggs, nuts, and citrus fruits.
Avoid touching your eyes with your hand during the day if you had not washed your hands. When you are on the job or in school, your hands are in contact with surfaces that are full of bacteria. If you touch your eyes, you will transfer the bacteria to your eyes and raise the risk if an eye infection.
As if smokers didn’t need yet another health related reason to quit, this habit also threatens eyes. Since smoking deprives every cell in your body of oxygen, something eyes need every minute, smokers run the risk of damaging their vision with each puff of a cigarette. Protect your eyes by quitting smoking as soon as you can.
Are you a smoker? If so, stop. Smoking increases the chance that you will have problems with your eyes, like cataracts and macular degeneration. It can be hard to quit, but never stop trying. Even if you’ve failed in the past, you still have a good chance of being able to quit in the future.
If you suffer with red puffy eyes a lot, consider reducing your sodium intake. Unfortunately, the salt we enjoy on our food isn’t all that good for our bodies, including the eyes. Try switching to sea salt instead, or using other herb and spice mixtures that contain no sodium at all. Your eyes should improve quickly.
One of the best things you can do to protect your eyes is wear sunglasses. Even when it’s cloudy, you need protection from UV rays. Buy shades with UV protection. The price tag is often higher, but your eyes should take priority.
If you start to see more floaters or flashes, see your eyecare professional right away. These may be signs of some deterioration in your eyes. If these go unheeded, it can lead to blindness as you get older. If the conditions are caught early, your eyecare professional can prescribe treatment that can reverse the deterioration.
Keep your eyes protected from the sun. You can protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays with good sunglasses. Too much UV exposure may lead to macular degeneration or cataracts. Choose anti-UVA and anti-UVB glasses for best results. Wraparound shades will keep your peripheral vision protected too.
If you find yourself blinking often, it may or may not be an issue with your eyes. This may be something that you do when nervous or stressed. You need to relax, in this case. If this does not work, consult a professional.
Do you play sports? Certain contact sports, like lacrosse and ice hockey, can be dangerous for your eyes. Make sure you wear either sports goggles or a face mask to limit your risk. While it may seem strange to wear them at first, you will quickly get used to them.
Do you use the computer often, either at work or at home? Looking at the computer screen can be damaging to your eyes, causing blurry vision, strain, headaches and even back and neck pain. Keep your eyes safe by resting them every 20 minutes. Simply look off into the distance for about 20 seconds. Make sure you take a break from your work every hour or so as well.
Avoid looking at your computer screen for too long. Take a break every half hour to give your eyes a rest from the strain. Staring at your computer can cause dry eye because you do not blink as often, so make an effort to blink every 30 seconds while you are at your computer.
Replace your makeup every two months. Just like with contacts, they can grow bacteria. After a number of weeks, all you are doing is dipping a brush in bacteria and then spreading them on your face. This causes damage to your eyes.
Always wear sunglasses outdoors. Many people mistakenly believe that sunglasses are only for days out at the beach or if the sun is particularly glaring. The truth is that UV rays are harmful to eyes. They can cause eye cancer, corneal burns, and even cataracts. Whenever you will be outside, grab a pair of sunglasses.
To soothe puffy eyes, place a slice of a cold cucumber on top of each eyelid. The coolness from the cucumber slices will calm the puffiness and give your eyes relief. Leave the slices on your eyes for about ten minutes before you sleep at night to reduce minor inflammation.
Learn to do some exercises for your eyes. Your eyes are controlled by muscles. Just the muscles in the rest of your body, they should be exercised to make them stronger. Alternating your focus between near and far objects for several times at once is a good way to work your eye muscles.
Try not to read in the dark or in a dimly lit area. You can strain your eyes when you are trying to read without enough light. Your eyes are already working hard to do the actual reading, so the additional strain of adjusting to the lack of light can overwork them. This can also lead to fatigue and headaches. Make sure the area where you are reading is properly lit.
It is important that you visit your optometrist every year to check your vision, but you should also be checking into the health of your eyes. Learning about eye care today will ensure your eyes serve you well tomorrow. Be sure to make use of every tip so you can see the great results.