Good vision helps you perform well—at home, at work, or behind the wheel. That’s why it’s important to take a few simple steps to make sure you help keep your eyesight at its best. A regular eye exam is the best way to protect your eyesight – and an easy precaution to take. Here are some tips to help maintain eye health:
Eat Well
As part of your healthy diet, choose foods rich in antioxidants, like Vitamins A and C; foods like leafy, green vegetables and fish. Many foods – especially fatty fish, such as salmon – contain essential omega-3 fatty acids that are important to the health of the macula, the part of the eye responsible for central vision. A healthy and balanced diet can keep your eyesight always good.
Quit Smoking
Smoking exposes your eyes to high levels of oxidative stress. While the connection has not been clearly identified, it is known that smoking increases your risk for a variety of health conditions affecting the eye.
Wear Sunglasses
If you pack your sunglasses away during winter, you’re making a big mistake. The glare in cloudy or overcast conditions can be particularly harsh and damaging to your eyes. Wearing UV-protective sunglasses helps delay the development of cataracts and can protect your retina from damage. Invest in a good pair of glasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
Use Safety Eyewear
If you work in metalwork, construction or other work environments where there may be dangerous particles in the air, it’s important to wear protective eyewear. If you’re involved in sports such as cricket, cycling, running and golf that require you to look into the sun at times, be sure to wear UV protective glasses suitable for that specific sport.
Look Away from the Computer Screen
Staring at a computer or tablet screen for hours on end can result in computer vision syndrome, a term for eye strain, dry eyes other conditions associated with computer use. Aim to use the ‘20-20-20 rule’. Look up from your work every 20 minutes at an object about 6 meters away for 20 seconds.
