Did you know that your daily lifestyle habits can have a direct impact on your eye health? Many individuals focus on practicing healthy lifestyle habits if they want to lose weight or have more energy throughout the day, but don’t realize that these same habits can help contribute to optimal eye health.
Here are lifestyle habits you can practice to support your eye health and prevent vision loss.
PRACTICE GOOD NUTRITION
Most people have heard that consuming carrots can help enhance their vision, which is true since carrots contain a number of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can help maintain good vision. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables — all of which contain important vitamins and minerals that can support good eye health while also boosting your overall health and wellness. Specific foods that are beneficial for eye health include carrots, leafy green vegetables, eggs, and wild-caught fatty fish.
WEAR SUNGLASSES
If you spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun without sunglasses, it’s possible your eyes are being damaged by the sun’s harmful UV rays. It has been found that exposure to UV rays can increase your risk for macular degeneration and cataracts, so it’s important that you protect your eyes when outdoors at all times. The sun’s rays can even affect your eye health on days that are cloudy and overcast, so make sure you wear sunglasses whenever you spend time outdoors.
WEAR THE PROPER EYE PROTECTION
Regardless of whether you’re an athlete or work in a profession that could potentially harm your eyes, wear the proper eyewear gear that will protect your eyes. For example, construction workers, welders, and woodworkers should wear protective glasses to prevent objects from flying into their eyes while they are working.
REST YOUR EYES AS NEEDED
Many individuals spend their days looking at the computer screen or television, which can lead to fatigue for the eye muscles. If you spend lots of time at the computer, or spend hours at a time reading books, take breaks to look up frequently to give your eyes a rest. Take at least a 20-second break from your screen or book every 20 minutes. Simply look up from the screen, and gaze out the window or at an object located across the room.
ATTEND EYE EXAMS
Regular eye exams are essential, even if you feel as if your eyes are healthy. Additionally, the eye exam is a good opportunity to determine whether you should be wearing vision correction lenses, or if you can benefit from vision correction surgery. At your eye appointment, you doctor will look for signs of eye infections, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts.
Do you need help with maintaining your vision health? Call Silverstein Eye Centers today to make an appointment for an eye exam.
Posted May 28, 2015 by Silverstein Eye Centers