Keep Your Eyes Healthy: Top Tips

Keep Your Eyes Healthy: Top Tips

Like most people, you must have also suddenly found yourself working from home for the foreseeable future. Without realizing it, you could be putting more strain on your eyes than before. This is especially true if you work on a computer all day long. As many people start getting used to home-based work, here are some useful tips to keep your eyes healthy:

1. Eat Right. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the same diet that safeguards your cardiovascular system will also boost your eye health. Eating foods low in fat and rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables can help not just your heart but also your eyes. Foods rich in Vitamins A, C, and E are on the top list. Diets abundant in omega-3 fatty acids have also been known to reduce the risk of developing eye diseases later in life. Leafy greens, beans, and foods rich in zinc are also excellent options to keep your eyes healthy.

2. Wear Proper Eyewear. Aside from wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays, you also have to wear protective eyewear as needed. About 2.5 million eye injuries occur in the United States every year. Whether you are playing basketball, on the job, or merely working on a simple home improvement project, never forget to use safety glasses or goggles. Wearing protective eyewear is crucial because it is your most reliable defense against eye trauma and injuries. They protect your eyes from inherent dangers at home and outdoors.

3. Rest Your Eyes. When you are doing close work, you may experience eye strain. Your eyes can get tired from continued or intense use, such as when reading, driving a car, or working on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Eye strain can trigger headaches, light sensitivity, eye pain, neck and shoulder pain, burning eyes, tired eyes, blurred or double vision, dry eyes, and watery eyes. To avoid these symptoms, ensure that your eyeglasses are suitable and up to date. It also helps to find ways to improve your environment.

4. Keep Your Eyes Hydrated. Your eyes have to keep moisture to work properly. Many factors can contribute to making them dry. These include smoke, pollution, excessive heating, certain medications, and some illnesses. Your eyes can also become dry and sore if you do not produce enough tears or have tears of low quality. Drinking plenty of water, blinking more often, and using lubricating eye drops can reduce irritation and discomfort.

5. Get Routine Eye Screenings. It’s easy to stay unaware of problems as many eye diseases have no outward signs. Getting routine eye and vision exams are essential for early diagnosis and treatment. It’s also necessary to maintain good visual acuity and prevent vision loss. Children require this preventative care as early as six months of age, when they turn three years old, and then again at the start of school. Routine eye checkup is crucial to guarantee your child’s normal vision development, which is critical to their academic achievement. On the other hand, adults like you should undergo a complete eye exam every once or three years, depending on your age and risk factors.

Regardless of how keen your eyesight is, scheduling an eye checkup can help you stay on top of your overall health. Contact the University Optometric Center now in Irvine, California, to make an appointment.