NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY EYES
It’s a new year again – why not resolve to take care of your eyes better than ever before?
Here are six things you can do:
Eat Healthy
Anti-oxidant foods (leafy dark greens and berries particularly) are protective to your vision. A diet rich in these foods will help reduce your risk for macular degeneration and cataracts. Aim to get a serving with every meal.
Protect from UV Light
Before you leave for that tropical vacation this winter, make sure your sunglasses are in good condition. Sunlight is damaging to the eye’s sensitive tissues and can contribute to disease and vision loss. Remember that UV damage happens even in winter – if you are skiing, snowshoeing or participating in other winter outdoor activities, wear those shades.
Eye Safety
Many eye injuries happen at home while doing simple household tasks. Chemical splashes, corneal abrasions, and foreign substances in the eyes can all be avoided with a little preparation. Wear safety goggles when doing things that could put your eye health at risk.
Contact Lens Habits
Despite all the new developments in contact lens material, we still see eye health issues from contact lens wear. The most common reason for this? Lack of compliance with wearing times, cleaning regimens and replacement schedules. Stick to your eye doctor’s advice – your eyes will benefit.
Get an Eye Exam
An annual eye exam can detect small problems before they become serious. In addition to checking for disease, eye teaming and focusing you may benefit from an adjustment to your eyeglass or contact lens prescription, or new technology to see the world more clearly and comfortably.
Take a Break from Computers
The average adult spends 7 or more hours on electronic devices like computers, tablets and cellphones each day. This puts most of us at risk for “Computer Vision Syndrome”, a collection of symptoms including blurry or double vision, eyestrain, headaches, and dry or irritated eyes. Once your work is done, resolve to give your eyes a break by doing something else!