Advice for basic eye care and taking care of the health of your eyes

You often do not consider the importance of good eye health unless you experience some kind of eye-related issue like conjunctivitis or chalazion (you can find more info on chalazion here) but it is important that you take care of your eyes on a daily basis. Here are some important tips for looking after your eyes.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet

Eating healthy can benefit your physical health in many ways, including your eye health. Make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as, fish full of fatty acids such as tuna and salmon. Some foods that are particularly good for your eyes are leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, Brussels sprouts, grapes, kiwi, avocado, or orange pepper to name a few.

Get regular exercise

While exercise will not directly impact the health of your eyes, it can reduce the occurrence or help control diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. These health issues can often lead to eye or vision problems so by controlling the causes you can reduce your chances of having these problems with your eyes.

Maintain a healthy weight

As mentioned in relation to exercise, diabetes can lead to problems with your vision such as diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. Maintaining a healthy weight massively reduces your risk of developing diabetes.

Avoid smoking

Another bit of general health advice that impacts your eyes. Smoking can increase your chances of developing age-related eye diseases and can damage the optic nerve.

Wear sunglasses or other protective eyewear

UV rays are not only damaging to your skin but also your eyes so make sure you purchase sunglasses with sufficient UV protection to reduce the risk of developing cataracts or macular degeneration. Try to go for sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA- and UV-B rays. You should also be mindful of the eye protection you may need when playing sports, doing repair projects in your home, or working in a factory setting or on a construction site in order to prevent eye injuries. A simple eye injury can escalate to something much more serious, and precautions should be taken whenever necessary.

Give your eyes a rest

Many of us spend most of our time staring at a screen, whether it is working on the computer, watching TV, or scrolling on Instagram. To help protect your eyes you should follow the 20-20-20 rule. This rule states that for every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen you should look away and focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This trick can help reduce eyestrain and ensure long-lasting eye health.

Know your risk factors and family history

Some eye diseases are inherited, so it is important to know your family medical history to know whether you are at risk of developing certain diseases. This also applies to age-related disorders so you can be mindful of your habits and possibly change your behaviors as you get older.