11 Must Reads To Boost Your Eye Health
So, you’ve had your eyes tested and you have healthy eyes and good vision. The optometrist says to come back in two years. Great. What next? So how do we keep our eyes healthy between eye tests?
Most people would agree that sight is the most important sense. After all, it is the sense that everyone would least like to lose. The human eye can distinguish 10 million different colours. We have over 500 million square kilometres of Earth to see. And these days even the top chefs are telling us that “we eat with our eyes.” For these reasons, our vision and eye health deserve to be well looked after.
Find out here, our optometrists’ best advice for healthy eyes.
1. Healthy Eating For Eyes
We’ve all grown up hearing that carrots are good for your eyes. In fact, the latest research adds a few more great foods to boost your eye health. Dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and silverbeet are high in lutein and zeaxanthin. These are both carotenoids and in the same family as the pigments in carrots. So if you are sick of eating carrots, try their cousins to super charge your eye and vision health. Oily fish high in Omega 3 oils and nuts are great additions to your diet too.
2. Wear Sunglasses With UV Protection
The harsh Australian sun means we cop a lot of UV radiation. UV damage to the eyes include skin cancers, cataract, macular degeneration, pterygium and more! Read more on why you need UV protection here.
3. Clean Faces, Strong Eyes
‘Clean face, strong eyes’ has been one of the largest campaigns to eradicate trachoma in Australia. Eye conditions such as blepharitis, can be managed with regular hot face washing. Our aim is to keep the eye lids and lashes clean.
4. Less Smoking
Smoking cigarettes can damage the small blood vessels in your body. Your eye health is dependent on the function of hundreds of small blood vessels. Smoking has been shown to lead to four times the risk of developing macular degeneration. This is the leading cause of blindness in elderly Australians.
5. Wear Eye Protection At Work and Home
Of the 125,000 eye injuries in Australia every year, up to 90% could have been prevented. Above all, this can lead to permanent vision loss. For this reason, we offer Australian Standard prescription safety glasses to keep you safe at work and home.
6. Good Lighting
Low lighting causes eye strain. Thus ensure your work space has enough light to keep your eyes comfortable. Similarly, poorly positioned light can cause discomfort from glare.
7. Reduce Digital Eye Strain
In the digital world, we all require usage of screens in our daily lives. Whether it is a computer, tablet or smart phone, they are everywhere. Consequently, more and more we are staring at artificial lights, at close range, for long periods of time. At InFocus Optical, we have computer lenses and Blue Control coating options that relieve this strain.
8. Rest Your Eyes
At times it might feel difficult to take a break from our busy lives. In particular, our eyes rely on a few vital muscles. At any rate, like all muscles, they get tired with increased use. With that in mind, look up and into the distance every 15 minutes. Your eyes will love you for it.
9. Don’t Leave Your Eyes To Dry
Dry eyes can be a terrible feeling. It is closely related to the last two points, so here’s what you need to know. It has been shown that concentrated viewing, such as computer use and reading, causes dry eyes. In fact, your eyes blink at half its normal rate during these tasks. For that reason, the front surface of your eyes go dry. If the previous tip does not give you enough relief, we may recommend dry eye drops. Book in to see our optometrist in order to have this checked.
10. Regular Eye Tests
While the recommended routine eye test is every two years, some eyes may need closer monitoring. For some eyes we may suggest more frequent reviews. In particular, younger and older eyes, this interval may be every year. InFocus Optical recommends an eye test as necessary.
11. Be Aware
It can be so important to note any changes to your eyes. For example, you may notice a change in vision, which may be blur or distortion. Additionally, cover each eye alternately, as some sight changes aren’t noticed because only one eye is affected. Especially, any flashing lights or black spots in your vision can be an eye emergency. Finally, ring us straight away if anything is concerning – you only have your sight to lose!