Maintaining your eye health is essential, and contrary to popular belief, getting a regular checkup is not enough. Your overall well-being depends on keeping your good eyesight, and while a monthly vision screening allows you to check if there is an infection, it isn’t enough to completely ensure optimal vision health.
You need to implement specific habits and preventative measures in your routine to ensure the perfect condition of your eyes.
Ways You Can Main Good Eyesight
Aside from primary eye care, it is crucial for all people to implement additional practices into their routine if they wish to maintain their good eyesight. Many people take their eyesight for granted because they aren’t aware of the dangers lack of care brings.
Remember the 20-20-20 Rule
Eyes are hard at work throughout the day, especially when you are using screens for long periods. Most people use handheld devices or computers, which causes strain on the eyes. You will need an occasional break from your monitor to ensure your eyes get the relaxation they deserve.
Eye strain can be intense if you work on a PC for a prolonged time without any rest in between. And to ease this strain, there is an established rule called the 20-20-20 Rule. The rule is to take a 20-second break and look at an object 20 feet away after every 20 minutes of screen usage.
Wear Sunglasses
As people take care of their skin during summer, they should take care of their eyes as well. Similar to the skin, ultraviolet rays are harmful to the eyes. And while wearing sunglasses is fashionable, it also acts as a preventative measure.
However, ensure you are not using just any random frame; protective sunglasses are different. It would be best to buy a pair of opaque shades to ward off the sun’s UV rays. When there is too much exposure to the sun, you are at risk of developing cataracts.
Pro tip: look for 99% UVB and UVA glasses for ultimate protection.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Eating well is often overlooked because people typically think their diet doesn’t directly impact their eyesight. Contrary to popular belief, your meal plans can negatively and positively affect your vision.
Vitamins and minerals are excellent for improving and maintaining your eyesight. In vitamins it is E, C, and A which mainly maintain the vision so you won’t suffer from poor eyesight. In minerals, it is zinc and omega-3 fatty acids; these help prevent diseases like macular degeneration.
Foods that are excellent for your eye health are:
- Green vegetables
- Red peppers
- Carrots
- Citrus
- Sweet potatoes
- Salmon
Quit Smoking
Smoking is bad for an individual’s overall health. It causes damage to your lungs, heart, teeth, skin, and many other body parts – including the eyes. Smoking will cause long-term damage to your eyesight since you risk developing cataracts.
Fortunately, once you quit smoking, the inflammation will eventually ease off, and your blood vessels will heal, ultimately ensuring optimal eyesight.
Preserve Your Eyesight
You may not have thought that eating well, smoking, screen timing, and wearing sunglasses are as important for their effects on the eyes. However, it is essential to maintain good eyesight. If you follow these tips, you may see an improvement in maintaining your eyesight.
If you have any questions or concerns about your vision, contact Total Focus Optometry in Edmonton today.
