Your eyes are important, after all, you rely on them to see. More vital, your eyes are part of your body’s overall health and well-being, often giving clues to other health issues during a comprehensive eye examination. Your want your eyes as well as the rest of your body to stay healthy well into the future, without losing any function as a result of aging or illness. You can make a difference in taking care of your eyes with these helpful tips.
Give Your Eyes a Break
Your eyes are constantly at work for you, especially if your career or your educational pursuits require the use of a computer or a tablet, or if you are always connected with your mobile device or smart phone. And that focus on the screen, often means you fail to blink, making your eyes dry and fatigued. It’s important that you rest often, giving your eyes a break. Most doctors recommend the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eye strain and keep your eyes healthy. Essentially the rule states that every 20 minutes, you look from your screen to a spot 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds. Your eyes are counting on you to give them a break.
Protect Your Eyes from Injury
Your eyes are sensitive and it’s crucial that you protect them at all times. Protective eyewear is the solution whether you are playing sports, are working on a project at home, or completing a project at work. Anytime your eyes are at risk for injury (a baseball hitting you in the eye, an elbow to the face in an intense basketball game, a shard of glass or a sliver of wood during a remodeling project, etc.) you should wear safety glasses, eye guards, or safety shields to protect your eye from harm and potential damage.
Keep Your Eyes Clean and Healthy
If you are a contact lens wearer, it is imperative that you keep your eyes, your contact lenses, and your hands clean. If you don’t properly clean your contact lenses or put your lenses in with dirty hands, an eye infection can result. To avoid infections that could be damaging to your vision, always wash your hands when putting in your lenses or taking them out, and clean your lenses properly, disposing of them when worn out.
Know Your Family History
In any area of health and wellness, it is important to know your family history and your eyes are no exception. Ask your parents and grandparents about their own eye health, discussing conditions or diseases that could affect you or your children’s eye health. Heredity and genetics can help your eye doctor check those areas and treat any condition which requires attention.
Have a Comprehensive Eye Exam
While your eye history may be clear of conditions and diseases and your vision is fine, you should have your eyes examined on a regular basis. When you visit your eye doctor, a comprehensive exam in which your eyes are dilated will allow the doctor to make an accurate assessment of your eye health as well as any potential eye health problems or potential diseases now and in the future. If you already wear glasses or contact lenses, you can also have your vision checked and your prescription updated. If you aren’t wearing glasses or contact lenses, your eye examination may reveal you need them.
These are the main steps in keeping your eyes healthy, a fact that your eye doctor can confirm when you visit as he or she helps you maintain your eye health in the years ahead.
