4 Vision-Boosting Tips To Keep Your Eyes Healthy
Every year, millions of people experience eye problems like cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Some of these issues may result in blindness, while others can be corrected with prescription eye contacts or glasses.
As you age, your vision may deteriorate. But there are ways to improve your eyesight, prevent illnesses that can compromise your eye health, and protect your eyes from getting damaged.
Here are four vision-boosting tips to keep your eyes healthy.
1. Go for regular eye tests.
Your eyes may seem healthy, but there is no accurate way of saying so unless you go for an eye exam. A trained eye professional will assess your eye health and tell you if you need vision correction devices and if there are any eye concerns that must be dealt with immediately. If there aren't any immediate issues, they may discuss with you any future treatments you may need to have, such as PTK, that can help address conditions like corneal scarring or surface irregularities. By scheduling regular appointments, you will be able to learn more about your own eye health as well as any treatments that you may be eligible for
Basic eye tests include:
● Visual acuity test – With one eye at a time, you will be asked to read letters from a sign that is positioned at a specific distance away from you. Your response will help determine if you have 20/20 (or 6/6) vision.
● Objective test: It is obtained by using an auto-refractometer or a retinoscopy The eye care expert objectively determines the refractive error of the eye without any feedback and with a minimal cooperation from the patient by projecting a beam of light into his/her eyes, and then flips several lenses to determine how it affect the vision. Subjective test – Like retinoscopy, this type of eye exam determines if you need prescription vision correction devices or not. Throughout the test, typically, the patient will sit behind a phoropter or wear a trial frame and look at an eye chart to see through a series of lens pairs to determine which lenses allow you to see clearly and requires the full response of the patient.
● Comprehensive dilated eye exam - This type of eye test allows an eye care expert to view the retina, macula, and optic nerve to check for any signs of eye illness and damage. It is usually recommended for people aged 60 and above and those at risk of specific eye diseases.
2. Wear protective glasses
Protect your eyes wherever you go outdoors or work on projects that involve exposure to debris and chemicals.
Protective glasses you must have include:
Sunglasses
Prolonged or direct sun exposure has a damaging effect on your eyes. The ultraviolet rays from the sun may damage the cells in your eyes, leading to several eye problems like macular degeneration, photokeratitis, and cataracts.
One of the most effective ways to protect your eyes from the damaging rays of the sun is to wear sunglasses. This protective eyewear can block some UV rays from reaching your eyes. Yes, a snowcap or a wide-brimmed hat can block out UV rays, but it is not enough because the water, seafoam, snow, and dry sand can reflect the UV rays up into your eyes.
When buying sunglasses, choose one with a photochromic lens that can block 90 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation. Moreover, get them only from a reputable optical shop.
Safety glasses
Safety glasses are goggles or spectacles designed to protect your eyes from hazardous elements like chemicals and debris. These are made from impact-resistant, anti-scratch polycarbonate to prevent eye injury.
Each eyewear has specific codes to indicate its filtering effect and strength. For instance, safety glasses with a shade number between 1.2 and 6 are recommended for men in the welding industry.
Eye specialists also encourage people engaging in sports activities to wear safety glasses. For instance, swimming glasses or swimming goggles can protect your eyes from the chlorine and other chemicals in the swimming pool. It will also keep your eyes out of saltwater and harmful bacteria if you are swimming in the sea or lake, especially if you are wearing contact lenses.
Computer glasses
Computer glasses or blue light glasses are becoming more popular because of the increasing number of people working or studying online. Blue light is the high energy of the visible light. This light is very harmful to retinal cells and causes a macular degeneration. Sources of blue light are two; sunlight and artificial sources, like fluorescent lamps and LEDs. By 2021, more than 90% of the screens and lights will be LEDS. (It is an Electricity consumption solution).
Working on computers requires focusing your eyes at close distances, especially in space-constrained offices. At some point, you may experience symptoms of computer vision syndrome. So if you are spending most of your time on your phones, tablets, and computers, getting a pair of this protective eyewear can prevent digital eye strain.
Depending on your type of work and vision, there are a few options when buying computer-specific glasses. These include monofocal, bifocal, trifocal, and progressive addition lenses.
But to ensure that you get the right pair of computer glasses, speak with your eye doctor about the kind of work you have and how much time you usually spend on your digital devices.
3. Keep your eyes clean.
If you are wearing contact lenses, always wash your hands before wearing or removing your lenses. Also, use only the right products when rinsing and disinfecting your lenses and lens storage case.
Moreover, toss eye makeup that is more than three months old to avoid eye contamination. And whenever you develop an eye infection, consult an eye specialist right away.
4. Take breaks and blink.
If you are a freelance creative writer or spend hours on your phone, tablet, or computer, make sure to take a break and blink.
The average person should blink at least 15 times every minute. But if you are focused on your device, you tend to blink less, which is not good for your eyes.
Blinking keeps the surface of your eyes free from any debris and washes it out with tears. It also nourishes your eyes with nutrients and oxygen to keep them comfortable.
Apart from making a conscious effort to blink at least every 10 seconds, you should also:
● Practice the 20/20/20 rule – look at least 20 feet away from at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
● Minimize glare from lights by repositioning your screen or using a screen filter.
● View your screen slightly below eye level and approximately 25 inches away from your face.
Caring for your vision is never too late, regardless of your age. Don’t wait for your eyesight to diminish or get permanently impaired.
Use these tips to keep your eyes healthy. Take action now!