Posted by There are many important ways that we care for our bodies and your eyes are just as worthy of being cared for. All too often, people ignore eye care, until it deteriorates, fails or is permanently damaged. If you need some good eye care tips, keep reading.
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.
Avoid frequent eye strain, for the long-term health of your eyes. While the occasional squinting isn’t going to do much harm, if you’re doing it on a daily basis, your vision could be in danger. Experts recommend getting an exam to determine if your strain is due to needing glasses and to otherwise go easy on your eyes.
Eat a healthy diet to help take care of your eyes. Certain foods, particularly those high in vitamins C and E, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids can help protect your eyes as you age. Aim for green leafy vegetables, “oily” fish, beans, eggs, nuts, and citrus foods for best results.
Avoid exposing your eyes to bright light for a long period of time. The bright light can cause your eye muscles to strain. They can also damage your eyes. If you are out in the sun all day long, wear a hat and a pair of sunglasses that offer UV protection.
Sunglasses are not all created equal. The ones you wear should completely block all UVA and UVB sun rays. Even if you are choosing glasses as a fashion statement, understand that some cheaply made sunglasses can even negatively impact your vision.
Wear protective eye gear. Sunglasses are great when it comes to protecting your eyes from the sun, but when you’re on the job and need to protect your eyes from sawdust, debris, or sand make sure you wear tougher eye gear than just a pare of goggles. Goggles are a must-have for anyone working in these kinds of environments.
Avoid glare when possible, including that from your electronic devices. Glare is a concentration of bright light, so you know it is not good for your eyes. If you are using your device where glare is an issue, you should purchase an anti-glare screen protector for your laptop, phone or tablet.
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 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.
Staring at a computer too long can strain your eyes. Blink often to keep your eyes from drying out. You should also focus on cutting glare on display screens. An anti-glare screen will help you with this. Keep the monitor at the same level as your eyes. You need to just barely be looking down at your screen.
As you age, your eyes may dry out often. Eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids is beneficial. Also, avoid extreme temperatures. Make sure that the vents in your car are not directly on your face.
Cucumber slices are a good remedy to place on top of puffy swollen eyes to prevent water retention. Cut a cold cucumber into quarter inch slices, then place them onto your eyelids and close your eyes for 10 minutes while you relax. Using green tea bags soaked in cool water is a great way to eliminate puffiness and inflammation.
If you want to maintain your eyes healthy and you are a smoker, quit smoking. Smokers are more prone to getting optic nerve damage, macular degeneration and cataracts. If you have attempted to quit smoking before and have failed, keep trying. If you need extra motivation, think about the damage smoking can do to your eyes.
Visit your eye doctor on a regular basis. It is important to get your eye’s checked for their health and for your vision. If you are straining to see because your vision isn’t good or your glasses or contacts don’t help like they should, you can cause permanent damage.
See an optometrist. As you get older, your eyes do not work as well as they once did. You may not have needed glasses your entire life, but its a good idea to see an optometrist every year, the same as you see a dentist every few months. An optometrist will be able to tell you how your eyes are doing, and you can get glasses if necessary.
If you are working long hours and experience eye fatigue, try a splash of cold water to refresh yourself. This can help to relieve any irritation and pain from the redness that you experience. Additionally, it can boost your energy.
Your eyes are central to most everything in life that you do. The problem is that most people don’t take good care of their eyes and this leads to serious issues. Being proactive can really help you to avoid eye diseases. Take all the good eye care tips learned here to help ensure your eyesight is always in the best condition.