Poor eye health afflicts millions around the world. While even healthy eyesight often declines with age, there are actions you can take every day to preserve your vision long into the future.
The truth is that although many common eye diseases are influenced by genetics, making some simple lifestyle changes can mitigate the chances of experiencing eye problems later in life.
Why Should You Care About Eye Health?
Protecting your eyes by following basic eye health tips can improve your quality of life. Being unable to see properly can lead to isolation, discomfort, and difficulties functioning in daily life. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 12 million Americans over 40 suffer from vision impairment. One million are classified as legally blind, which can make carrying out day-to-day tasks nearly impossible.
Facts About Eye Health
How much do you know about your eyes? Let’s take a look at some surprising eye health facts from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
- You can start losing your sight before you notice any symptoms
- The eye is the second most complex part of the body after the brain
- Most forms of glaucoma have no warning signs
- People living with diabetes often don’t notice vision problems at first
- Sudden blurriness may indicate age-related macular degeneration
In other words, you can already be on the road to vision loss before you notice that your vision has deteriorated. This is because the brain tries to adapt to poor vision the best it can.
6 Tips for Good Eye Health
Most eye problems can be prevented by making some basic lifestyle changes early and practicing eye health tips for better vision. Take action today with these simple eye care tips.
1. Book Regular Eye Exams
Experts recommend a comprehensive eye exam every two years as your vision changes all the time. For people over 40 or those who already have vision problems, consider attending an eye exam once per year. This is one of the best tips for healthy eyes, yet many people don’t visit an optician until it’s too late.
2. Wear the Right Prescription
Due to the fact our vision changes constantly, updating your prescription and wearing your glasses when required will protect your vision. You may also want to consider transition lenses if you’re often out in the sunshine or Blue Light glasses if you spend long periods looking at a screen.
3. Adopt a Healthy Diet
You are what you eat, and so is your eyesight. These dietary tips for eye health will help you to strengthen your eyes and fight off age-related vision problems, including cataracts. The following foods are essential for good eye health:
- Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach and kale
- Fatty fish, like sardines, tuna, and salmon
- Citrus fruits, like lemons and oranges
- Beans, nuts, and eggs for added protein
You may also want to consider eye health supplements to give your body all the ocular nutrients it needs. These supplements are scientifically formulated for superior vision.
4. Quit Smoking
Smokers are up to three times as likely to suffer from serious eye problems. Some of the most common problems smokers experience include uveitis, macular degeneration, and cataracts. Quitting smoking as early as possible can stop much of the damage.
5. Limit Your Screen Time
Excessive exposure to technology can cause significant exposure to eyesight. One of the top eye health tips is limiting your screen time as dry eyes, eyestrain, blurry vision, and trouble focusing on long-distance objects are all potential outcomes of too much time looking at a digital screen.
If you spend a lot of time on a screen due to work, you can follow eye health tips like blinking more, taking breaks every two hours, and regularly looking at objects further away to align your vision and improve focus. For ultimate protection, purchase a pair of Blue Light glasses.
6. Try Eye Exercises
Eye exercises won’t bring back your vision, but they can certainly reduce eye strain and deal with focusing issues. Most eye stretches can be carried out at home, at work, or whenever you have a spare moment. Some of the top exercises include:
- Brock string
- Palming
- Barrel card
- Figure eight
- Near and far focus
Most eye exercises will take no more than a few minutes per day. You can even space them out and spend a few seconds when your eyes are particularly strained.
Note: Learn more about eye exercises on our blog post.
Conclusion
Don’t let your vision deteriorate. Adopting a healthy diet, performing regular eye exams, and engaging in eye exercises are just some of the options you have for better vision. Improve your vision with the help of Felix Gray. Get a stylish pair of designer glasses that work as hard as you do, at a price that suits you. Shop our stylish Felix Gray collections today to find your perfect pair.