Eyes have been called the gateway to the soul. They are also used in love references, staring into each other’s eyes and so on. Sight is one of the most trusted senses, after all, you can’t trust that what you don’t see. However, we don’t always take the best care of our eyes, leaving our sight to debilitate with time. Here are a few preventative measures that you can use to ensure your sight holds at 20-20.
Eat right
You are what you eat. Eating a balanced diet will ensure you get sufficient nutrients to keep your eyes healthy. Some of the nutrients linked with good eyesight include vitamin C, and E, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, and zinc. Foods rich in these nutrients fishy food like salmon and tuna, oranges and other citrus fruits, leafy veggies like kale and spinach, beans, eggs, nuts, and pork.
Keep hydrated
Your eyes need water to keep them fresh and hydrated. The best and most palpable way to keep them in that condition is to stay hydrated. You should drink at two liters of water in a day. But if that doesn’t seem realistic, then you can substitute water with other fluids like tea, soup, organic juices, and yogurt. However, you should also try drink water. Carry around a water bottle and drink the water in intervals.
Wear protective sunglasses
Sunglasses are more than just a fashion statement. They protect our eyes from the harsh ultraviolet rays from the sun. UV rays can over time lead to quite a number of eye problems, including macular degeneration and cataract. You should keep sunglasses close by, and always wear them when you have to step out into direct sunlight. You can get quite a variety of sunglasses so as not to get bored with a single pair. The ideal sunglasses should protect you from 99% -100% of both UVA and UVB rays.
Choose the right makeup
Makeup is supposed to make you look prettier and define your attractive features. However, there are different brands and quality of makeup, some of which will react with your eyes. While choosing your make up, choose one that doesn’t irritate or react with your eyes. Steer clear of mascara, eyeliners, and eyeshadows that may react with your eyes.
Keep distance from your monitor
Staring at your phone screen or computer for too long can cause eyestrain, blurry vision, dry eyes, headaches, etc. If you have prescribed glasses or contacts, ensure the prescription is up to date. Also, give yourself a 10 minutes break from your machine every two hours or so. Your sitting position while working on your computer should also be comfortable, with your back leaning against the chair at a 90-degree angle. Finally, move the top of your screen to level with your eyes, this way you will be looking down slightly at the monitor.
Get enough sleep
Just like the rest of your body, you need to ensure you rest your eyes and give them time to regenerate their strength.
Quit smoking
Smoking has been linked to quite a number of debilitating body conditions. More particularly to the eye, smoking can accelerate the risk of developing macular degeneration, uveitis, and cataract.
Get regular checkups
You should have an extensive eye exam at least once every two years. The tests that include dilating your pupils can determine risk for major eye illnesses like diabetic retinopathy which has no early warning signs or symptoms. The eye exam can also help the doctors decide if you need prescribed eyeglasses.
In addition to these preventative measures, wear safety glasses when working with tools that could potentially harm your eyes or while playing sports that could injure your eyes. And when you feel any irritation or discomfort in your eyes, do not brush it off, see a doctor as soon as possible.
