Healthy Vision: How can we take care of our eyes

Our eyes are the most important of the five senses that help us interact with the world. When we perceive nearly 80% of our surroundings through our eyes, the need for proper vision care cannot be stressed enough. Think about it! Can you drive safely with a blurry vision? Can you spend hours in front of your computer screen at work if your eyes get tired too easily?

Good vision is needed for almost everything that we do. Taking care of our eyes won’t take much time and effort. Yet, most of us tend to neglect its need. While you may not feel its importance while you are young, you might face vision loss as you grow older.

Why you should care

Our vision affects our quality of life. Almost 2 million people in the UK today are suffering from some kind of eye problem out of which 360,000 people have complete or partial vision loss. The facts are impossible to unsee.

So,now you understand why you should be concerned about your eye health and have an eye test every two years. The good thing about eye care is that you can feel the changes in your vision as soon as you take the first step towards it.

If you act fast and do some simple things daily, you can protect your vision in the long run and avoid financial burden in the future. Yes, you’ve heard me right! Ignoring your optic health today will have you face huge medical costs in the future. Does it sound like something you would want? No, right?

Ofcourse, you can use protective eyewear to save your vision but your eyes need care everyday. If you don’t want to spend the later years of your life dealing with cataract and glaucoma, you better take actions while there is still time.

Want to know what makes up for a better vision? We will tell you all. Here are some steps to help you on your journey to optimal eye health.

Healthy diet for healthy eyesight

Yes, the road to a better vision is as simple as that. A healthy diet makes up a healthy life and that includes your eyesight as well. Foods rich in vitamin C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein protect your eyes against macular degeneration and cataract. Add leafy green vegetables like spinach to your diet and add a punch of nutrients to your meal. If you are a fan of protein, fishes like salmon and tuna will satisfy your taste buds while improving your vision.

Quit smoking

Quitting smoking needs another level of motivation. What if we say that giving up smoking can actually do wonders to your ability to see? Smoking causes increased levels of inflammation in our body and tenses up the tiny blood vessels in the eyes causing serious harm to our optic nerves over time. So, why keep smoking when you have so many reasons to quit?

Use them sunglasses

Though sunglasses have become a fashion accessory, we cannot ignore that the UV protect technology is what made them famous in the first place. A pair of good-quality sunglasses can save you from eye conditions such as cataract, pinguecula and macular degeneration induced by the harmful UV rays of the sun.

Limit the blue light exposure

We live in the age of smartphones and computers which has made our eyes more vulnerable to the vicious blue light. You must have experienced symptoms like dry eyes, blurry vision and eye strain after you have spent too much time on digital screens. Blue light is what makes you feel this way.

Wearing protective gear such as blue light blocking glasses, can avoid digital strain and work for long hours without making your eyes tired. If you think that your vision has reduced due to prolonged exposure to this light, it is time to get your eyes tested.

Want to hear something good? There are some companies like Specscart that give free eye test facilities. You can have a complete vision evaluation without even spending a penny.

Do not rub your eyes

Our hands pick up dirt and germs from different surfaces. When we rub our eyes, these germs and bacteria get transferred to our peepers making them more prone to infections and eye problems. If you are a victim of this habit, make an effort to keep your hands off your eyes.

Use the 20–20–20 rule

If your work involves looking at screens all day, this rule is made just for you. If you find yourself looking at your computer or smartphone for more than 20 minutes, look away and fix your focus on an object that is at least 20 feet away from you and blink 20 times.

When we stare at a digital screen for long, it damages the cornea and our eyes start to lose focus. Fixing our gaze on distant objects will protect our cornea and support better focal ability.

Better sight, better mind

What do you think is the most important organ in our body?

If you answered ‘brain’, you are right. Given that our brain and eyes are connected by our optic nerves, a healthy eyesight ensures a healthy brain or vice versa. People with eye conditions that cause damage to the retina are more likely to have weak memory and thinking skills. If you keep your eye healthy, you would not only be rewarded with a better vision but a healthy mind as well.

The final word

Your eyes are vital for your everyday life. Good vision not only helps you see things clearly but it also adds to our quality of life. Taking steps to improve your eye health should not be a matter of choice. If you have identified changes in your sight, see an optician without wasting any time.

So what are you waiting for? Take care of your eyes today so that your tomorrow is full of colours, life and clarity.