The eyes are an important part of the body because they help us see and make sense of everything around us, which is why we should take good care of them. Here are some important tips on how to keep your eyes healthy;
1. Eat healthily
Your diet dictates how good your eyesight will be and how long that good eyesight will last. Ensure that your diet has nutrients like zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and C, and lutein.
They help keep your eyes strong and fight age-related eye problems like cataracts and macular degeneration. You can get these nutrients from foods like;
• Tuna, salmon, and other oily fish.
• Green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and collards.
• Non-meat proteins like nuts, eggs, and beans.
• Pork and oysters.
A healthy diet also helps maintain a healthy weight that reduces the chances of you having diabetes that may cause glaucoma.
2. Wear sunglasses
Too much exposure to the sun’s UV light rays increases the chances of you getting eye problems like macular degeneration and cataracts. Ensure that you have the right pair of sunglasses, especially ones with dark lenses when you are spending a lot of time outside.
Ensure that the glasses block out 99-100% of UVB and UVA light rays. To protect your eyes even from the side, go for wraparound glasses, and if you are driving, polarized glasses will help in glare reduction.
If you use contact lenses, go for the ones that offer UV light protection, but also put on glasses for an extra layer of protection.
3. Reduce the time you stare at your computer or phone
These are perhaps the leading causes of eye problems in recent years. When using your computer or phone, ensure that you adjust the brightness such that it is not too high, especially while you are in the dark.
Staring at the screens for too long can cause blurry vision and eyestrain. To protect your eyes;
• Ensure that you often blink to prevent your eyes from drying and using artificial tears.
• Keep updating your contact lenses and glass prescription.
• Use an anti-glare screen to avoid the glare from lights and the windows.
• Rest your eyes by looking away for 20-30 seconds after every 20 minutes.
4. Use safety eyewear
Whenever you are working on anything dangerous like chopping wood or using a dangerous material that may hurt your eyes, ensure that you have goggles on. The wood may hit your eye and damage your cornea or iris, causing blindness.
Also, ensure to put on helmets whenever you are participating in games like hokey and lacrosse to avoid being hit by the ball or other players’ sticks.
5. Quit smoking
Smoking is responsible for some eye-related problems like macular degeneration, cataracts and may damage your optic nerve.
6. Take safety precautions
If you use contact lenses, ensure that you wash your hands before inserting and removing the contact lenses to avoid spreading any bacteria and infections. Also, avoid rubbing your eyes or inserting them into your eyes.
7. See your doctor
Make regular visits to your doctor for checkups. They will help identify any diseases before they become worse and give you the proper medications to stop them. They will also give you more advice on how to continue keeping your eyes healthy and strong.