As a consequence of the digital age in which we spend most of our time glued to screens and staring at televisions, the eyesight of many is becoming poor. The use of glasses is higher than ever, and more people are suffering from conditions of the eye.
It is very important that now more than ever we protect our eyes and cultivate good eye health and practice. This page will offer you seven ways to protect your eyes that you may not have thought of before.
It is important for the health of your eyes that you attend yearly eye checkups, and twice-yearly if you already have pre-existing eye conditions. You must also make sure that you attend an optician at the first sign of any eye problems, as they can often strike fast and move quickly.
Catching them early is essential to saving the health of your eye. Some signs that there may be a problem with your eye can be a sudden rise in the number of floaters (which on their own are quite normal) or flashes that look like lightning occurring at the corners of your eyes.
Both of these can be indicative of something far more serious and must be addressed immediately.
1. Blue Light
Blue lights are imperceptible lights that filter straight through our eyes and are processed by our retinas. There has been significant controversy attributed to them in the media, with many scientists saying they contribute to eye conditions and premature blindness.
It has been proven, without a shadow of a doubt, that they contribute to age-related macular degeneration, but premature blindness is entirely anecdotal.
If you spend a lot of time staring at the screens of phones or computers, then it may be worth investing in blue light glasses or software. Blue light glasses are tinted yellow and prevent blue light from penetrating the lenses; you can complete a blue light test with them to ensure they work as effectively as they are meant to.
Blue light software on the other hand, which can be more expensive, removes blue light completely from your screen, thereby meaning the glasses are entirely unnecessary.
Both of these methods can be very effective and come with their own respective benefits. If you spend a lot of time using computers and phones, then it is definitely worth investing in either of these solutions.
2. Sunglasses
If you spend a lot of time in the sun you can find your eyes affected as a result of its UV rays. UV (ultraviolet) rays can be very damaging to your eyes and if you do not protect your eyes against them you can find your vision seriously hindered.
Wearing sunglasses when out in the sun is crucial should you want to protect your eyes. You must ensure your glasses are in good quality and that they are able to protect your eyes.
Some glasses are simply for aesthetics and offer no protection against the sun, and in fact, can actually do more damage to your eyes than not wearing them at all.
3. Screen Time
A massive factor that contributes to eye-problems all around the world is uncontrolled screen time. If you want to reduce your risk of eye disease or eye conditions, then reducing your screen time is essential.
There are many studies that link staring at computer screens all day to eye problems. If you are going to stare at screens, be sure to wear the glasses suggested previously.
Limit your screen time, whether it be recreational or for work. Uncontrolled screen time can also have a negative impact on your sleep.
4. Sleep
Sleeping can improve your eyes. Many of us will have experienced blurred vision after a lack of sleep, and it is very common. Constantly not sleeping will undoubtedly have a negative effect on your vision, and you will regularly experience visual disturbances and phenomena.
Sleeping for eight hours a day is the amount recommended by scientists and medical professionals, although every person differs. Sleep for as many hours as it takes you to be able to function properly and move around without feeling lethargic and fatigued.
5. Diet
Unsurprisingly, as with many aspects of your health, your diet can effectively protect your eyes. Eating a diet rich with minerals and vitamins is a great way to ensure the health of your eyes.
A diet rich with fatty foods and processed fats will contribute to poor eye health. Diabetes, for example, is a condition that is often contracted as a result of poor eating habits and is one that can have a direct impact on the health of your eyes, even leading to blindness in some serious cases. Improve your diet, not only for your eyes but for your overall health.
6. Glasses
If your vision is poor, it is very important that you get prescription glasses. Many people refuse to wear glasses because they simply do not appreciate how they look. By not wearing glasses out of vanity, you risk seriously compromising the health of your eyes and even potentially causing blindness.
Glasses take the strain off of your eyes and help them to function better. You should always wear glasses if they have been recommended to you by an optician, otherwise, you simply risk damaging your eyes even further and increasing the need for glasses more and more.
7. Lighting
Sometimes the light of the rooms that you sit in can have an impact on the health of your eyes. You should avoid using ultraviolet lights around your home as it has been proven they are linked to eye conditions, and you should make sure you sit in well-lit rooms when doing tasks that require you to concentrate, like reading, for example.
Sitting in rooms that are dim all of the time contributes directly to poor eye health and degenerative eye conditions. Be careful about the light of the rooms that you are sitting in.
Now you know seven ways to protect your eyes. Protecting your eyes is very important, as they are our windows to the world. You must protect your eyes as best you can, they are a great asset and a great gift.