Top Tips For Keeping Your Eyes Healthy
Whether you wear glasses, contact lenses or nothing at all, looking after your eyes is something that everyone should do. Here are a few things that you can do to keep your peepers looking super sparkly.
- Make sure you get your eyes checked by an optician at least once every two years. If you wear contact lenses, you should see your optician once a year. The optician will look for any abnormalities or defects on your eye. More often than not they won't find anything, but it is better to be safe rather than sorry. If you do wear lenses or glasses, the optician will check your prescription, if anything has changed, then they will help you find new glasses or update your contact lenses.
- When it is bright, wear sun glasses. Make sure they have a sticker that says 100% UV 400 and they carry the European approved CE label. I say "when it is bright" because UV rays are present in the atmosphere at all times, even in winter or on a cloudy day. UV rays cause damage to your eyes called photokeratitis, where the eye essentially experiences sunburn. Damage does not tend to be permanent; however, severe cases of exposure to UV rays can lead to blindness. If you ski, make sure you always protect your eyes outside, for the UV rays are reflected off the snow increasing potential exposure.
- A good diet is always important, but eating well has positive effects on your eyes. Vitamins C, A and E, folic acid, selenium and zinc are all beneficial for the health of your eyes.
- If you spend a lot of time working in front of a computer, make sure you take a break from the screen every 20 minutes. This can be making a cup of tea, taking a quick walk or having a conversation with a colleague. Reducing stress and strain on the eye like this will make sure the muscles around your eye are not weakened. Long term strain can lead to your prescription worsening.
- Don't read in the dark. For the same reason as above, your eyes will strain to see the words.
- If you smoke, stop smoking. Or at least cut down. Smoking is likely to help the development of cataracts and muscular degeneration.
- If you wear monthly contact lenses, make sure you clean them regularly or if you are suffering, think about changing to dailies. Remember when handling your lenses to wash your hands beforehand.
Our eyes are incredibly special. Make sure you look after them.
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