05 Oct 3 Eye-Care Habits to Protect Your Vision

“The eyes are the windows to your soul.” – William Shakespeare.

Whether you agree with the above quote or not, you will agree that your eyes are essential to your quality of life. We use our eyes to appreciate the beauty around us, to identify and sidestep potential dangers, and to make sense of the world.

Unfortunately, it is estimated that 21 million Americans deal with vision problems, while another 80 million have eye diseases that could eventually lead to vision issues or even complete blindness.

Thankfully, there is quite a bit we can do to improve our eye health and protect our vision.

Eye-Care Habits to Protect Your Vision

1)   Wash Your Hands

You know that washing hands is essential to our health and hygiene. What you probably did not know is that it is also vital for the prevention of vision-related diseases.

Many eye issues, including bacterial and viral infections, pass from the hands to the eyes. These infections can lead to long-term vision damage. To keep this from happening, remember to regularly wash your hands and avoid putting unwashed hands in or around your eyes.

2)   Consume a Eye-Healthy Diet

As you would expect, eating the right foods plays a key role in your eye health. A balanced, complete diet can lower your risk of vision problems like night-blindness, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Here are a few foods that can help maintain or even improve vision:

• Fishes with a high Omega-3 content (tuna and salmon, for example)
• Lutein-containing leafy-greens like spinach and kale
• Citrus, bell-peppers, and other foods with Vitamin C
• Whole grains like quinoa and barley that contain B-Vitamins and help prevent diabetes-related vision damage by regulating blood sugar
• Eggs – they contain zinc, zeaxanthin, lutein, and Vitamin A, all of which are essential for better vision

3)   Give Your Eyes a Break

If you are like most people, you spend large chunks of your days staring at a computer screen. Extended use of computers or other devices can lead to a group of eye and vision issues referred to as ‘digital eye strain’. Symptoms of digital eye strain include fatigue, dry eyes, headaches, and blurred vision.

To avoid eyestrain, take regular breaks while working on digital devices. A good way to do that is by using the 20-20-20 rule where, you look away from your computer screen every 20 minutes, and, for 20 seconds, focus on something that is at least 20 feet away. Alongside preventing digital eyestrain, the 20-20-20 rule will also help cut down on your total screen-time.

Final Word

The eye is a treasured organ, and should not be taken for granted. Fortunately, a few simple habits like the ones discussed in this blog, can go a long way in preserving our eye-health and vision. It is vital that you schedule an eye exam every year (sooner, if you suffer from problems like diabetes or hypertension), even if there is nothing apparently wrong with your sight.

To get a free LASIK consultation and explore your eye-care options, please feel free to reach out to us.