With the NHS reporting that over 2 million people in the UK are living with sight loss, it’s more important than ever that we make sure that we take care of our eyes. This Valentine’s day why not pledge to love your eyes more. This could be by simply wearing glasses when driving, taking your specs off in bed or resting your eyes for just five minutes every hour.
Eat Healthy
The key to keeping your vision in tip-top condition is to maintain a well balanced, healthy diet. Eye conditions that you can try to prevent by eating foods containing essential antioxidants include:
- Cataracts
Cataracts are a clouding of the lens in your eye that interferes with your vision. They usually develop slowly and may not cause any pain or discomfort. - Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD is the leading cause of blindness in the UK and a very common cause of blindness among people over the age of 65. - Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease that causes damage to the optic nerve and can lead to gradual loss of vision. - Dry Eyes
Dry eyes are one of the UK’s most common eye conditions and will affect around 40% of the population at some point in their lives. The condition occurs when tears aren’t able to provide adequate lubrication to your eyes.
Foods that contain lutein, vitamins A, C and E, zinc, zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids are especially good for your eyes.
Protect Your Eyes From The Sun
It’s very important to protect your eyes from the sun and a good place to start is with sunglasses. Not only do they protect your eyes from harmful UV rays they also look good and are a great fashion accessory. Not all glasses are made equal so it’s important that you choose a pair that offer UV400 protection.
Take Regular Breaks From Screens
At work, home or on the move it’s important that you take regular breaks to give your eyes a rest from reading, playing on your mobile phone or working on the computer. It is recommended to give your eyes a rest by following the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes look away from your screen for 20 seconds and focus on objects 20 feet away.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is well known in society to cause heart disease and lung cancer, however, what many smokers don’t realise is that it can also lead to vision loss too. According to RNIB published research, smokers are twice as likely to lose their sight in later life than non-smokers. Toxins inhaled when a person smoke damage the blood vessels behind the eye resulting in an increased chance of developing AMD.
Wear Eye Protection
If you work in a hazardous environment make sure you wear safety glasses/goggles to protect your eyes from airborne materials. Likewise, if you play sports such as squash, ice hockey or lacrosse make sure to wear the appropriate protection.
Have Regular Eye Tests
Just like you would go to the dentist every 6 months to a year to make sure your teeth are in good health, it’s also important to visit an optician to check your eyes. Even if there are no noticeable symptoms there are some conditions that can be caught early and treated before they become problematic. Also, eye tests can detect other non-related eye conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. Book an eye test today with one of our expert, friendly optometrists.