Keeping your eyes healthy

How to keep your eyes healthy

Have regular check-ups: have your eyes tested every two years even if you think your vision is fine. An eye test can spot some eye conditions and other illnesses not related to sight. Regular check-ups are vital even if you have no symptoms.

Find out your family eye health history: some eye conditions have genetic links which increase your risk of developing them. Share this information with your optician.

Take care of your contact lenses: if you wear contact lenses make sure you look after them properly. Thoroughly wash and dry your hands before touching your contact lenses or your eyes. Your lenses and their case should only ever be cleaned with the recommended lens solution.

Wear sunglasses: protect your eyes when it is sunny or when you’re in high glare areas such as near snow or water. Sunlight can flood your retinas, releasing chemicals that can cause damage. Sunglasses provide a safe level of protection from the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays. Ongoing UV exposure can increase your risk of developing cataracts or macular degeneration.

Keep fit and healthy: being fit and well can help your eyes stay healthy. Maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure can help with eye health.

Eat well: make sure your diet includes nutrients such as Omega 3 fatty acids, zinc and vitamins C and E. These can help to slow progress of age-related vision problems. Recommended foods for general good health include green leafy vegetables, oily fish such as salmon and citrus fruits.

Stop smoking: smoking is harmful to your eyes and can increase the risk of sight loss. Current smokers are 2-4 times more at risk of developing macular degeneration than people who have never smoked.

Look away from the computer screen. Staring at a computer or phone screen for too long can cause:

Eyestrain
Blurred vision
Trouble focusing at a distance
Dry eyes
Headaches
Neck, back, and shoulder pain

To protect your eyes:

Make sure your glasses or contacts prescription is up to date and suitable for looking at a computer screen
If your eye strain won’t go away, talk to your doctor about computer glasses
Move the screen so your eyes are level with the top of the monitor
Avoid glare from windows and lights.
If your eyes are dry, blink more
Rest your eyes every 20 minutes. Look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.Get up at least every 2 hours and take a 15-minute break