Don’t Take Your Eyes For Granted: 6 Tips For Healthy Eyes

We need our eyes to perform everything from jobs in the manufacturing and mining industries, to everyday tasks like cooking or mowing the lawn.

At EyeglassesPro, we are dedicated to the safety and health of your eyes so you can lead the best life.

While many never consider the health of their eyes except when visiting the optometrist, there are a number of easy steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy day in and day out.

Eat Healthy & Exercise

Eye health starts with a healthy diet complemented by daily exercise. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can promote eye health and prevent disorders caused by diabetes and other conditions. Additionally, some healthy foods can also benefit your eyes.

Some eye-friendly foods include:

  • Salmon and other fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Eggs, which contain vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A and zinc
  • Dark leafy greens like kale that have antioxidants, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A
  • Citrus fruits like oranges, which contain Vitamin C
  • Carrots, for their Vitamin A and beta carotene
  • Nuts and seeds like almonds that contain Vitamin E

Get Your Eyes Examined & Know Your History

Getting your eyes regularly examined by an optometrist is one of the first steps in keeping your eyes healthy.

A doctor will examine your eyes, diagnose any problems, and provide treatment. If you wear glasses, this is critical since your prescription can change gradually over time without you even noticing it.

It is recommended that you know your family eye health history, as it will help your physician understand any conditions you may be at risk for, such as glaucoma.

Wear Prescription Safety Glasses, Even At Home

Whether at work or at home, wearing prescription safety glasses is an essential part of keeping your eyes health and safe when performing certain tasks.

Safety glasses are specifically designed to meet OSHA and ANSI standards and are tested for durability, protection and quality.

Prescription safety glasses help protect your eyes from debris while cycling, splashing from cleaning solutions at home, and UV light and infrared radiation from welding, to name a few examples.

While you may feel safety glasses are overkill in some common situations, just remember what your parents used to tell you: It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

Clean Your Contact Lenses Correctly

If you wear contacts, you need to clean them correctly and thoroughly before and after you wear them. To clean and care for your contacts and case:

  • Use fresh cleaning solution each time
  • Never use tap water, saline solutions, or rewetting drops as they will not disinfect the lenses
  • Do not let the tip of the cleaning solution bottle touch any surface and close it tightly after use
  • Replace the case every 3 months, or if it becomes chipped
  • “Rub and rise” your contacts with clean fingers
  • Follow your doctor’s prescribed schedule

Always wash your hands before touching your contacts and never sleep with them unless they are rated for night and day use.

If your contacts are old or do not fit well, throw them away and follow up with your eye doctor for new ones. Following these tips will help you avoid the risk of infections like keratitis, or the inflammation of the clear tissue on the cornea.

Wear Prescription Safety Sunglasses

Do you spend a lot of time outside? Then be sure to regularly wear sunglasses or prescription safety sunglasses with UV protection, even if you will only be outdoors for a short period of time.

This will protect your eyes from harmful UV radiation that can potentially cause your eyes to develop problems like cataracts and macular degeneration.

Take A Break From The Computer

Most of us work at a computer for our jobs, and if not, we typically have smartphones and other mobile devices we look at regularly.

Staring at a screen for an extended period of time can cause eye strain and fatigue, as well as computer vision syndrome (CSV). Symptoms include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Headaches
  • Neck and back pain
  • Dry eyes
  • Eye redness
  • Eye irritation

Take a break from screens about every half hour or so to give your eyes a rest. You can also use computer safety glasses to help block blue light and cut down on eye strain.

While eye health is something that is easy to take for granted, it is important to take steps toward keeping your eyes in the best shape possible.

By simply following a few precautions like regularly seeing an optometrist and wearing prescription safety glasses & prescription safety sunglasses, you can protect your eyesight from a number of everyday hazards.