Oct 18

Tips to Keep Your Eyes as Healthy as Possible

Your eyes need TLC too! First and foremost, a yearly comprehensive eye exam is vital to keeping your eyes on the right track and keeping them as healthy as possible. But there are ways to help your eyes stay healthy outside of the optometrist’s office.

Follow these tips for long-lasting healthy vision:

Diet matters: The right foods are the foundation for so much when it comes to your overall body’s health. This is also true for your eyes and certain nutrients and vitamins are especially essential to keep your peepers at their best! Lutein, zinc, Vitamins C and E and Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to be beneficial for eye health. You can find these in green leafy vegetables, salmon, tuna, eggs, nuts and non-meat protein sources and oranges and citrus fruits.

Healthy habits: Smokers can face damage to their optic nerves, macular degeneration, cataracts and other medical problems. Putting out those cigarette butts is important to your eye and overall health.

Got to wear shades: Ultraviolet rays can hurt your eyes as well as your skin. Wearing sunglasses is important to protecting your vision. Aim for a pair of shades that blocks upwards of 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Even if your contact lenses provide some protection, it is still important to wear sunglasses.

Safety first: If you play sports, always make sure that you wear the sports goggles or helmets with protective face masks. When working at home with hazardous materials or when using tools that can lead to flying debris, always protect your eyes with safety glasses. 

Screen time break: Constantly staring at our devices and computer screens can really lead to eye strain and wear and tear on our eyes. Make sure to take breaks from staring at your screen to avoid eyestrain, dry eyes, headaches and more. 

Contact Wearers Beware

Millions of Americans wear contact lenses every day, and their eye health has an extra component. As a reminder, always follow recommendations from your eye doctor for how long you should wear your contacts. Do not sleep in them or swim in them – unless you have the OK from your doctor. Clean your lenses every day with clean hands and store them in new solution. To help keep your contacts at their best, replace your lens case every three months. When you put a new case into use, wash it with solution – not water –  and let it dry before storing your lenses. Whether you wear glasses or contacts, keep your hands off and do not rub or itch your eyes to prevent scratches and the spread of germs.

Connect With Our Team Today

Our optometric practice is all about our patients and their eye health. Not only will we perform your exam and help with glasses or contacts, but also we are happy to have a conversation about your individual eye health. Contact us through our online form.