Have been skipping on the eye care regime, haven’t you? Eyes are independent self-cleansing organs, true. But that doesn’t give you a pass to neglect them at all. These are one of the most vulnerable parts of our body and require due care. You don’t want to be juggling around the fussy contact lenses or bargain the natural look of bare eyes for nerdy glasses now, do you? So word of the wise – don’t take them for granted. Give your lovely peepers the pampering they so deserve and actively engage in their proper caring from, say today?
Here are quick-help tips to keep your lovely eyes beautiful and healthy.
1. Eat Smart
Unless it’s hereditary or one meets with an accident, the most common eye problems faced are the one that comes with ageing, like cataracts and macular degeneration. And, these are pretty easy to treat with foods which are rich in vitamins C & E, zinc, lutein, and omega-3 fatty acids. And, how can you get these? Well, these are not elusive at all. Just make sure you eat green leafy vegetables like kale, collards, and spinach regularly. Beans, nuts, citrus fruits like orange, and other non-meat protein sources can also work wonder for your eyes. And, if you’re not a vegan, there are further options for you such as oily fishes like tuna and salmon, eggs, pork, and oyster!
And, do you know eye health is seriously affected by your weight? A balanced diet ensures you don’t get over-weight and in turn obese or get diagnosed with type 2 diabetes – one of the major causes found in adults for blindness! You can get help here for keeping your weight in check.
2. Quit Smoking
It’s bad, we all know. But the lungs-wrecking cigarettes also wreak havoc on your eye health as well. You can go blind by smoking – fact. Smoking slowly damages retina, optic nerve and leads you slowly towards weaker and inferior eyesight. Cataracts and macular degeneration – keep in mind it is incurable – are diseases which you get from puffing on cigarettes. So if you don’t smoke, don’t start and if you do, try to kick the habit. Easier said than done, yes, but nowhere close to impossible.
3. Wear Sunglasses
You know those chicks or hunks who just never go out of their home, or as a matter of fact anywhere, without their fancy uber-cool sunglasses? Well, they are making more than a fashion statement here, whether they know it or not. Your eyes need a lot of protection from UV rays. So, next time you’re out shopping, look for shades which can block 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound glasses look great too and protect you laterally. Oh, and if you drive, get your hands on the polarised ones. They reduce the glare to a great extent. So, next time you walk out in a sunny afternoon, don’t forget to put on nice shades and look cool.
4. Go for Eye Exams Regularly
It’s not a popular saying, but seeing an eye doctor (ophthalmologists or optometrists) is as important as your regular one, or a dentist for that matter. A thorough eye exam can result in a timely diagnosis of diseases like glaucoma, which has no apparent symptoms.
A regular checkup can help you see better and protect your eyes. A normal eye checkup session may include a discussion of family and personal medical history, besides a bunch of tests like vision tests, optic nerve tests, and even microscopic examination of eyes both prior and after the dilation. You’re missing out if you’re not undergoing these eye healthcare sessions. #FOMO
5. Avoid Prolonged Computer and Phone Sessions
Okay, this is a hard one and we’re all guilty of this. And, it’s also the demand and need of times. Dry eyes, blurry vision, headaches are just what we’re all familiar with. But, you can get around, or at least, minimise the impact of the problem. Follow the triple 20 rule. After every 20 minutes, rest your eyes and look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Your eyes will thank you. And, anytime during looking at the screen you feel you’re starting to have dry eyes, just blink more and it will go away on its own. And, here’s a neat trick. Adjust your screen so that your eyes are at level with the top of it. This way you get to look down at the screen occasionally. No more need for internal reminders for blinking! Cool, right? And, better yet get yourself computer glasses, since we just can’t do away with the ‘necessary evil’ of smartphones and computers. And, the world will look beautiful again, literally.
Now, that you’ve read it all, maybe you start being more careful towards your eyes’ health. They’re precious and should be treated like that. Savvy?
