When was the last time you had your eyes checked? May is Healthy Vision Month and the perfect time to make an appointment if you haven’t already this year. Without our vision, life would be challenging to get through everyday activities. In this blog, you will learn 5 simple ways to protect your vision, so you can keep seeing everything that’s important in your life!
1. Get Your Eyes Examined
As we age, annual eye visits grow more important. The risk of eye problems increases with age, so catching any problems early can help. There are some common conditions doctors can detect during an exam, including:
- Cataracts: a condition with clouding and darkening of the eye lens that blocks one’s vision. One in five adults over the age of 65 are affected by this condition.
- Glaucoma: an eye disease that can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss and blindness.
- General health problems: eye exams can also show signs of diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol
2. Regularly Wear Sunglasses
It’s great to get vitamin D from the sun, but when your eyes are exposed to too much direct sunlight, this can damage your eyes which can create a number of health issues. Make sure to keep a pair of sunglasses packed in your bag whenever you go out. If you wear prescription glasses, not to fear! Prescription sunglasses are available so you can still see clearly and protect your eyes! You want to make sure though that your sunglasses protect your eyes from all types of UV light to block these dangerous rays. You can also wear a hat for extra protection, as they block as much as half of UV rays.
3. Rest Your Eyes
We tend to watch a lot of TV or work on computers quite often, without giving our eyes a break. When we stare at screens, the number of times we blink goes down drastically, which can lead to dry and tired eyes. Every 20 minutes, take 20 to 30 seconds to look away and let your eyes relax. Take this time to take a couple of sips of water, or even better, green tea! There are antioxidants in this tea that may help your eyes to produce tears for better lubrication. You can also do simple eye exercises throughout the day to rest and strengthen your eyes.
4. Healthy Foods for Healthy Eyes
There are a number of delicious foods that you can eat to help keep your eyes healthy. Some foods contain vitamins and antioxidants that can help reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration. Including eye-healthy foods in your diet can help to prolong your vision. Some of these foods include:
- Raw Red Peppers: Did you know bell peppers help the blood vessels in your eyes and could lower your risk of cataracts? A great way to eat raw peppers is with some delicious hummus, which is also healthy, too!
- Dark Leafy Greens: These contain vitamin C and E, which can also help lower your risk of cataracts. Some of these include kale and spinach. Both of these can be included in a salad, which is always a great meal choice.
- Seafood: If you are a seafood fan, then load up on the salmon! It is rich is Omega-3 fatty acids which help to protect your eyes from glaucoma. You can also eat tuna and trout to get the benefits as well. Dry eyes have been linked to low levels of fatty acids, so make it a seafood night. You can also find a delicious salmon recipe from our very own Collington Chef that you will be sure to enjoy.
5. Use Adequate Light Indoors
To reduce the amount of strain on your eyes, make sure you have enough light indoors. Introduce more lamps or natural light into your home to help your eyes focus more easily and reduce eye strain. Positioning the lamps so the light is directed where you need it most, will be helpful as well. The best light bulbs to use include artificial warm lights such as incandescent bulbs and LED bulbs, which are also more energy efficient. If you want to mimic the natural lighting of the sun without those harmful UV rays, invest in some full spectrum lightbulbs.
Now that you know how to protect and improve your eyesight, take a rest, do some exercises and make a delicious healthy meal. Your eyes will thank you for it, and you’ll feel better overall!
Do you have any other tips to share that you do to help keep your eyes protected? Send us a comment below!