Your eyes are one of the vital organs you cannot work without. Neglecting eye care affects your quality of life. About 20 million Americans suffer from a severe vision problem. Not only protecting your vision is important, but preventing eye diseases is also essential. Fortunately, there are simple ways to protect your eyes and reduce the chances of vision loss in the future. So don’t take your eyes for granted and start following these simple tips to keep your eyesight at its best.
1. Eat Well:
Good eyesight begins with the food you consume. Nutrients like zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, and vitamin C and E can help to prevent vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts. To get these nutrients, fill your plate with leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, and collards. Eat salmon, tuna, and other oily fish twice a week. Try to consume non-meat protein sources such as nuts, beans, and eggs regularly. Oranges and other citrus fruit juices are also beneficial for eye health. Type-2 diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults, which can be prevented through a well-balanced diet.
2. Wear Sunglasses:
The right pair of shades will protect your eyes from the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Too much exposure to UV rays increases the risk of certain eye diseases and weakened vision. Choose a pair of glasses that block 99 percent to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Polarized lenses help to reduce glare while you drive. Moreover, it’s important to wear protective eyewear during sports and other repair activities to prevent eye injuries.
3. Avoid Excessive Exposure to Computer Screens:
Staring at a computer/phone screen for too long can severely affect your eye health. Excessive exposure to blue light can cause eye problems such as eyestrain, blurry vision, dry eyes, and long-distance focus issues. Therefore, you must update your glasses or contacts for blue light protection. Blink your eyes more often while working at a computer system or staring at a phone screen. Take breaks of 15 minutes every 2 hours. You should also look 20 feet away for 20 seconds after 20 minutes of continuous staring at the computer screen.
4. Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly:
Everybody needs to have a regular eye exam, even your young children. It helps to monitor changes in your eyes or vision and catch the problems earlier before they become worse. Regular eye exams can detect eye diseases, like glaucoma, that do not have symptoms. Visit an eye doctor in King of Prussia for vision tests, eye pressure, and optic nerve tests to make sure your eyes are working well.
5. Sleep Well and Quit Smoking:
Good sleep will support the health of your eyes. Your eyes can be affected by getting insufficient sleep regularly. Adequate sleep ensures that your eyes are strain-free. You’ll look great and perform well at your work as your eyes will be well-rested. Smoking tobacco is directly related to adverse health effects, including age-related macular degeneration. Moreover, smoking exposes your eyes to oxidative stress. Therefore, its best to quit smoking for the sake of your eyes and your overall health.