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You’re not alone in asking how to protect your eyes in the age of remote work, social networking, and screen time. Perhaps you routinely forget to wear sunglasses, or you have a profession that requires you to sit at a computer for the majority of the day. You may also have skipped your yearly eye test. Unfortunately, these seemingly insignificant errors can progressively harm your vision.
Now is the time to make changes to keep your vision alive! It’s never too late to start a new healthy routine or break a bad habit. Here are a few pointers to help you regain your eye health and eyesight.
How To Protect Your Eyes: 10 Tips for Daily Life
Are you looking for real-world examples of how to protect your vision? Then, consider the ten suggestions below and consult with your eye doctor to develop a tailored plan for protecting your eyesight.
1. Keep Screens at a Distance
You’re not imagining the dry, itchy eyes that result from hours of staring at a computer screen. Computer vision syndrome is a transitory ailment that causes strain, discomfort, and light sensitivity due to screen glare. According to the American Optometric Association, your screen should be at least 20 inches away from your eyes.
2. Rest Your Eyes and Blink Often
When looking at a screen, people blink less, which can cause dry, irritated eyes. For people who spend their workdays in front of computers, iPads, or other screens, experts advocate the 20-20-20 rule. Look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. If you frequently have eye strain or dry eyes, set a timer to remind yourself to do this.
3. Always Wear Sunglasses
Learn how to protect your eyes from damaging ultraviolet rays whether out in the sun or driving during the day. UV radiation can cause cataracts or age-related macular degeneration, as well as sunburns on your eyes (in extreme cases) at any time of year. Make sure your sunglasses filter at least 99% of UVA and UVB radiation.
4. Optimize Your Diet With Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in cold-water fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, and sardines, may help reduce your risk of dry eyes and eye illnesses such as macular degeneration and cataracts. If you dislike seafood, consider taking fish oil supplements or other omega-3-containing supplements, such as black currant seed oil or flaxseed oil.
5. Include More Greens in Your Diet
Do you want to change your diet to safeguard your eyes? The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are found in leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, zucchini, peas, avocado, and Brussels sprouts. The National Eye Institute’s Age-Related Eye Disease Study found that some dietary supplements, containing certain important pigments, can help delay the advancement of various eye illnesses.
6. Control Your Blood Sugar
It may appear that your overall health has little bearing on your eyes, but in some circumstances, it does. Maintaining blood sugar management is an important part of protecting your vision if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes. If blood sugar is not closely regulated, it might cause eye problems, including blindness. According to the CDC, diabetes-related vision loss can be avoided in up to 90% of cases. If you have concerns about your blood sugar or overall health, contact your physician to schedule an exam sooner rather than later.
7. Pay Attention to Your Contact Lens Routine
Contact hygiene is an important part of understanding how to protect your eyes. Before inserting or removing contacts, always wash your hands and preserve your lenses in contact solution. Never clean your contacts with anything other than this contact lens solution, and always follow your eye doctor’s recommendations for proper use. To avoid irritation, infection, or vision loss, it is critical to adhere to the replacement schedules for your contact lenses.
Keep an eye out for eye drops, especially if you work at a computer and have dry eyes. Purchase a product designed exclusively for contact lenses, such as Blink for Contacts. Consider switching to daily contacts if your contacts annoy you frequently. These lenses are more comfortable and breathable. They also don’t require storage because you replace them every day, and there’s no need to keep track of a replacement schedule.
Keep a spare pair of glasses on hand for days when your eyes feel dry or irritated, and throw away any contact lenses you’ve used while suffering from an infection, such as pinkeye.
8. Discard Old Eye Makeup
Learn how to safeguard your eyes on a regular basis by addressing your makeup drawer. Bacteria in old eyeliner, mascara, and eyeshadow brushes can contribute to eye infections. Throw away or replace any eye makeup that is more than four months old. Sharpen your eyeliner pencils on a regular basis, and avoid putting liner on the inner of your eyelids. If your eyes become irritated, stop wearing cosmetics until they heal.
9. Wear Protective Eye Gear
If your work demands eye protection, always use protective eyewear or safety goggles. Consider eye safety precautions when working in the garden, performing house repairs, or working with harsh cleaning agents such as bleach or oven cleansers.
10. Schedule a Yearly Eye Exam
It is essential to see your eye doctor at least once a year for a full vision exam. Annual eye exams are not only beneficial in learning how to maintain good vision and detecting early signs of eye illness, but they are also an essential indicator of your general health. Routine eye exams allow your eye doctor to spot indicators of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, brain tumors, aneurysms, and multiple sclerosis, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
The recommendations provided here will help you keep your eyes safer on a regular basis, but they will not replace a full eye checkup. Schedule your appointment today, and don’t be afraid to ask our knowledgeable doctors and staff at True Eye Experts any questions you may have.
