About Time: Tips For Looking After Your EyesBy Angelica Malin
You are probably constantly bombarded with information on how to stay healthy, whether it’s your diet or fitness. It can feel overwhelming trying to keep up with all the latest health trends. One thing to remember is how important it is to look after your eyes. If you have noticed your eyesight is deteriorating, you should get your eyes tested as you might need glasses or myday daily disposables contact lenses.
There are a number of misconceptions surrounding eye health, so it’s key that you understand how to maintain healthy vision and what to do if you notice a change. With that in mind, here are some top tips for looking after your eyes.
Digital Screens
Looking at digital screens all day can cause something called eye fatigue or eye strain, where your eyes become tired. This is because your eyes are working harder to focus on small pixelated characters on a screen close up, whether it’s your phone or your laptop. Your phone screen is constantly refreshing meaning your eyes have to refocus to capture information.
You may benefit from taking frequent breaks from looking at your screen, particularly if you use a computer regularly for work. This can help to prevent eye strain, which in turn will help you to focus better on your work. The 20-20-20 rule is a popular; every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Similarly, if you need to wear corrective lenses, make sure you do so. Your lenses can also stop your eyes from needing to work so hard in order to see clearly.
UV Protection For Your Eyes
You already know to protect your skin from UV rays by wearing sun cream, but did you know you’re also supposed to protect your eyes? Sunglasses aren’t just for shielding your eyes from the bright light, but also for providing crucial UV protection.
Wearing lenses with UV protection can help to reduce the risk of cataracts. There are many different options when it comes to choosing the right sunglasses.
Consider lenses or lens coatings that offer built-in UV protection. Lenses of this kind are made using technology that absorbs UV light before it reaches your eyes, avoiding premature eye ageing.
There are also clear lenses with UV protection technology available so you can protect your eyes in all weather conditions, even on cloudy days UV is still present.
Health-Related Advice
Smoking has been linked to problems with your vision, including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Smokers are at a higher risk of developing these conditions. So, if you do smoke, consider quitting to ensure you maintain prolonged healthy vision.
Similarly, drinking excessive alcohol can have a detrimental effect on your vision. Short-term effects include slower pupil reactions and blurred vision, while long-term damage can include extreme cases such as toxic amblyopia which causes permanent vision loss. Drinking too much alcohol can also affect your vision through vitamin deficiency.
Regular Eye Examinations
Of course, one of the easiest ways to look after your eyes is to attend regular eye examinations. It is recommended to have your eyes tested every 2 years. This can be incredibly helpful as your optician will be able to look for any troubling signs or change in your eye health.
The earlier a problem is found, the easier it is to treat! Regular eye examinations can also ensure you are wearing the correct lens solutions for your needs, which is crucial for clear, comfortable vision.