Vision is an essential part of our daily living. To be able to appreciate various day-to-day sights, right from the faces of our loved ones to the amazing beauties of nature around us is a boon in itself. Yet we often tend to take it for granted and neglect taking care of our eyes. It is important to protect and care for your eyes routinely. These simple steps will help you maintain good eye health, which will be beneficial in the long run.
1. Eat Right
Eating right is not only good for your heart; it also helps in protecting your eyesight. Regularly eating foods containing nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E helps in lowering the risks of acquiring as well as preventing eye conditions. For good eye health include the following in your diet:
· Green and leafy vegetables like Spinach, etc.
· Dark colored fruits like grapes, cherries, strawberries, etc.
· Citrus fruits and juices.
· Nuts, beans, eggs and other non-meat proteins.
· Oily fish like Salmon, Tuna, etc.
Maintaining an ideal healthy weight will also help to keep obesity related diseases like type 2 Diabetes at bay, which is the most common cause of blindness in adults.
2. Wear Sunglasses
Eyes need to be protected from the sun’s ultraviolet rays as too much exposure makes you prone to cataracts and muscle degeneration. It is important to choose the right kind of sunglasses; usually the ones that block 99% - 100% of both UVA and UVB rays offer maximum protection. Even if you wear contacts, it is still advisable to wear sunglasses for added protection.
3. Stop Smoking
The chances of getting cataracts, muscle degeneration and optic nerve damage are high if you are a regular smoker. Try to quit smoking at the earliest to avoid such conditions.
4. Regular Eye Check-ups
Just like a dental check-up, even regular eye check-ups are a must and should begin at an early age. Irrespective of whether you wear corrective eye wear or not, a regular eye check-up will go a long way in helping to detect the slightest changes to your eye health. If you wear corrective lenses, then ensure that your periodic eye check-ups are not missed.
5. Reduce Computer Eye Strain
Staring at the computer screen continuously can cause severe eyestrain, dry eyes, blurry vision, and headaches. If you wear glasses make sure that the power of the lens is up-to-date. Some might require glasses to combat the color, glare and eyestrain. Ensure your computer has an anti-glare screen. Use a comfortable chair and position the computer so that your eyes are at level with the top of the monitor. Blink more, if you eyes get dry. Every 20 minutes, rest your eyes by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Take a 15-minute break every 2 hours