Caring for your eyes is a hugely important task. Sadly, most people have no idea what it takes to keep their eyes in tip top shape. The tips and tricks found below will assist you in making sure your eyes are working for you instead of against you over time.
Make sure you see only qualified eye care professionals for prescriptions and checkups. To find the best local practitioners, you can ask for personal recommendations from friends and family or look online for patient feedback on specific doctors. This helps you locate the best possible care for your eyes.
Don’t smoke. You probably already know that there are many serious dangers related to cigarette smoking. One of the less-known dangers is developing Age-related Macular Degeneration(AMD). Several scientific studies have shown that the patients who did smoke were much more likely to develop AMD than those who didn’t smoke. Just another reason not to start smoking or to quit today.
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.
It may seem strange, but your diet can help you prevent some eye problems. Many studies have been done and show how omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and Vitamins E and C reduce the risk of eye problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Beans, nuts, oranges, tuna, leafy vegetables, and salmon all contain these nutrients.
One easy way to protect the eyes is by wearing sunglasses. This can prevent UV rays from damaging your eyes. If you are choosing sunglasses, focus on good UV protection. While they will probably cost more, the proper care of your eyes is at stake.
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.
If you wear contact lenses, avoid wearing them while you sleep or for more than 19 hours. Unless you are wearing special lenses that are made for wearing overnight, your contact can deprive your eyes of oxygen and lead to extreme discomfort and possibly serious permanent damage to your sight.
If you suffer from dry eyes, this can be painful. You may want to try a high quality saline drop. In addition, little things, such as blinking, can increase tear production. Try to avoid using products that are filled with chemicals. Over time, these may actually worsen your dry eyes.
If you are planning on staying outside for a long period of time, wear a baseball hat or visor. This can prevent the sun’s harmful rays from impacting your eyes and can reduce any irritation that you feel. Additionally, your eyes will become less dry if you block the sun from entering in.
If you want to ensure that your eyes aren’t puffy, put your eye gels and creams in the fridge. This coolness will help to reduce inflammation, plus it will feel great when you put it on. Be sure to use your gel or cream every day for optimal results.
If you frequently use a computer, keep in mind this can harm your eyes. If you feel them drying out, make sure to blink frequently. In addition, reduce the screen glare. It is easy to find anti-glare screens. Finally, make sure the computer is positioned such that your eyes and the top of the monitor are level with one another. You want to be looking down when you view your screen.
To diminish puffy eyes, use slices of raw potato. Cut the potato into half circles and place over your closed eyes. If you prefer, you can grate the potato and place in some Muslin cloth, then squeeze excess liquid out and place on closed eyes. Leave either on for 15-20 minutes for best effect.
In order to minimize eye stress, take breaks when you have to spend long periods of time working in front of a computer. Even taking a two-minute break every half hour makes a huge difference when it comes to the toll that the work takes on your eyes, and you will be more productive.
Always wear proper eye protection. Every year, thousands of people end up blinded due to improper protection gear at work. Whenever you are working with chemicals or machinery that can cause small debris to fly, protect your eyes. A simple set of protective glasses can mean the difference between seeing and being blind.
A great way to relieve eye strain when using electronics is to incorporate anti-glare covers or screens. Many monitors for computers and tablets use these now and greatly help your eye health over prolonged periods. You should also make sure there are no direct lights on screens to help reduce glare in this way.
You may not realize how important staying physically fit is for the health of your eyes. Being overweight can cause a number of health problems, one of them being glaucoma. Exercising for about a half an hour each day can reduce pressure on your eyes by as much as 20%!
Practice good makeup hygiene. Makeup worn on and around the eyes, particularly mascara, can be a breeding ground for bacteria. If you want to ensure that your eyes stay clear and free from infection, take a few precautions. Mascara should be tossed after three months. In addition, avoid putting liner inside of the eyelash. This can block the oil glands necessary to keep your eyes protected.
When you use these tips, you will find that your eyes are healthy and see clearly. Be sure to take great care of your eyes so that they continue to work well long into your golden years. What you’ve learned today will last a lifetime, so be sure to keep using this information long into the future.