Safeguard Your Eyesight With These 7 Simple Habits To Prevent Eye Problems

A good eyesight is a blessing that we often take for granted. Prevent eye problems with these simple tips that can easily become good habits. 

Eyes are our window to the world, a vital sense organ. But not to be forgotten, that we often tend to take things for granted and the case is no different here. We do become negligent and not bother enough about taking care of our eyes.

According to a report issued by WHO more than 285 million people are visually impaired worldwide and of these cases, about 80 per cent of them could have been avoided or cured.

Wear shades when you step into the sun

Protection shield for your eyes is necessary. Whether you are travelling, driving a car, riding a bike or enjoying on the beach, you should always wear your shades. Ultraviolet rays are sharp and they can burn your eyes. Red, itchy or gritty feeling eyes are the symptoms. This kind of discomfort is short lived but continuous exposure to ultraviolet rays can cause cataracts and irreversible damage to the retina.

So always make sure to wear your sun glasses whenever you are stepping out in the sun. Invest in good shades, it’s important. As per The American Optometric Association sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB radiation, screen out 75 to 90 per cent of visible light, are free of imperfections and distortion, and have grey lenses for proper colour recognition are ideal.

Eat a healthy diet

Remember, since childhood days our grandmothers have always emphasised on eating carrots saying that they are good for eyes. Yes, they are, because carrots are rich in carotenoids lutein and Zeaxanthin that can help fight cataracts and macular degeneration. Carotenoids can be found plentiful in leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale and also in broccoli, turnips. So involve these healthy foods in your diet to protect your eyes naturally.

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Regular eye check-up

Several eye diseases and disorders can be easily taken care of if one comes to know about it in the early stage. Regular visits to your eye doctor ensure an early diagnosis, and you can also get an up-to-date prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses.

The American Optometric Association suggests that children  should have their eyes examined at

• six months old,
• three years old,
• before the first grade,
• and then every two years until their eighteenth birthday.

Adults between the ages of 18 and 40 should have their eyes checked every two to three years. 41 to 60-year-olds require an exam every two years, and adults over 60 should have an annual eye exam.

If you’re at higher risk for eye diseases, because of diabetes, hypertension, a family history of ocular disease, or daily use of contact lenses, then a regular visit to doctor should not be ignored at any cost.

Cleanse your eyes

Regular cleansing of your eyes will help you to keep your eyes clean, moist and cool. At regular intervals, you should rinse your eyes thoroughly with tap water and wipe it with soft towel. This allows the tired eyes to relax and get rid of the dirt and germ accumulated.

Before going off to sleep, you should also pour 2-3 drops of rose water in your eyes to keep it hydrated and cool. Covering your eyes with cucumber slices or potato slices frequently can also be one of the options to keep your eyes cool and healthy.

Also if your eyes are really tired because of excessive work, or due to continuous staring at the laptop screen then try and blink your eyes several times to let it calm down and this leads to secretion of natural fluid from the eyes which makes the eyes moist and wipe out the impurities with the fluid.

Eat foods rich in antioxidants

Increase the in- take of foods rich in antioxidants, as this can reduce the risk of developing age related eye diseases and cataracts. So consume foods with a combination of vitamin C and vitamin E as this can give a boost to your anti-oxidants. Fruits like papaya, strawberries, green peppers, berries, oranges, grapefruit etc are excellent source of vitamin c and vitamin E is found in foods like almonds, sunflower seeds, peanuts. Omega 3 supplements also work wonders for your eye.

Preventive measures to save your eyes from computer

If your work demands you to spend non-stop several hours in front of your desktop or your laptop screen then you should take several preventive measures to protect your eyes otherwise you will be at risk of developing Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). The symptoms include headache, blurred vision, eye strain and dry eyes.

To avoid this, following measures should be taken: Set the center of your computer screen 4-5 inches below eye level and 20 to 28 inches away from your eyes. Reduce glare by using lower wattage light bulbs overhead and closing curtains. Lastly, blink more often and rest for 15 minutes after every 2 hours of computer use.

Maintenance of your contact lenses (if you use them)

Contact lenses, no doubt is the need of the hour and it does enhances your look. But one should be pretty careful while wearing lenses because it requires certain degree of maintenance. To avoid dryness, irritated eyes, blurred vision, pain and other discomfort, always wash your hands before handling your contact lenses. Clean and store your lenses only in fresh solutions, remove your contacts before sleeping, or going inside water.

These simple and easy habits can help you a lot in protecting your eyes and avoiding several eye-related issues that you may be facing in your day to day life. It just take three weeks to make it a habit, so overcome of all your laziness and work towards the health of your eyes because they deserve all your attention and care.

Image source: prevent eye problems by Shutterstock.

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