Resolving to be more intentional about your health in 2023?
Vision and eye health play a huge part in your overall health. In fact, many eye issues can be a direct result of other maladies in your body.
Here are six ways to protect your eye health and vision starting today.
Rest your eyes throughout the day
You’re reading this on a phone, tablet, or computer, so you might be one of the millions of Americans who spend their workday looking at a screen. While it’s not true that computer screens themselves will damage your vision, they can contribute to serious eye fatigue.
One of the simplest and easiest ways to prevent eye fatigue is with a 20-20-20 exercise, in three easy steps:
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Stop every 20 minutes
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Focus on something 20 feet away
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Keep focused for 20 seconds
You’ll notice less strain in your eyes almost immediately.
Wash your hands, especially with contacts
A simple soap and water hand washing does wonders in preventing infections caused by taking your contacts in and out. Of course, it’s also crucial to properly disinfect your contacts before putting them in, and dispose of them properly in a timely manner to avoid overuse.
You could also undergo vision correction surgery and get away from contacts for good. Refraction surgeries include LASIK, PRK, ICL, and more, and you can find out which one is right for you here on our website.
Here’s a jarring fact that should convince you to practice good hygiene when it comes to contacts: You’re more likely to lose vision from an infection stemming from contact lenses than you are to lose vision from complications of laser eye surgery!
Learn your family’s vision health history
Many eye conditions are hereditary, meaning they can be passed down to you from older generations. Over 300 eye conditions are believed to come from our genes. For example, you’re nearly 10 times more likely to have glaucoma if a family member also suffers from this common eye disease.
Thankfully, if someone in your family suffers from conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, or cataracts, treatment is available here at ilumin!
Being proactive about your eye health is one of the most effective ways to prevent vision loss, and learning your family history can help you and your ophthalmologist pinpoint conditions to look out for before they become a serious issue. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear to treat these issues, or it may be too late.
Maintain routine eye exams
There’s no better way to be proactive than seeing your eye doctor on a regular basis. Thankfully, routine eye exams don’t need to happen more than a few times every few years, depending on your age. So staying on top of your vision is easy!
Click here to schedule a routine eye exam.
Eat right, maintain a healthy weight, and watch your blood sugar
Obesity is one of the leading causes of diabetes, which is ultimately one of the biggest contributors to eye diseases like retinopathy and glaucoma. The good news? According to the CDC, 90% of blindness stemming from diabetes is preventable.
Eating right doesn’t just keep the weight down–certain foods are exceptionally good for your eyes. Ironically, the idea that carrots are good for your eyes is a myth that came from World War II. However, dark leafy greens like chard, kale, and collard greens have nutrients that contribute directly to good eye health. Similarly, foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, flax seed, and brussels sprouts are great for your eyes.
Wear the right glasses (for both work and play)
Wearing the right glasses refers not only to your prescription, but also to your sunglasses and even workplace eyewear for some people.
Wearing glasses with the wrong prescription causes eye strain and can harm your eye health. Keeping your prescription up to date is one of the best reasons to maintain routine eye exams.
Additionally, sunglasses aren’t just for style and comfort, as you probably know. They protect your eyes from dangerous UV light, so look for shades that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays.
Finally, don’t neglect protective eyewear in the workplace. This doesn’t just mean those working with heavy machinery! Workplace hazards in non-labor jobs still contribute to a high number of eye injuries, so always wear eye protection when appropriate.
And for those who spend lots of time in front of a computer—be wary of those blue light-filtering glasses. There’s actually no evidence to show that they prevent any eye problems related to screen time.
You’re better off using the 20-20-20 exercise mentioned above!
Stay ahead of vision loss each day
Every individual’s needs and risks for vision loss are different. Being mindful of these six tips will go a long way in preventing vision loss, but there’s no substitute for the expertise of an experienced doctor.
To create a custom plan for being proactive about your eye health, schedule and appointment with your eye doctor today—don’t wait.
Click here to request an appointment with the ilumin team.
