How To Take Better Care of Your Eyes: A Quick Guide
July 2, 2024 • 3:00 PM
Whoever said that eyecare isn’t a form of self care is wrong!
The fact of the matter is, eyecare is extremely important and should be a priority. Here are some ways we can reinvent the idea that eyecare is in fact self care. Our eyes carry us through so much and allow us to see new things! So, why don’t we treat them better?
Our eyes are crucial, delicate parts of our bodies — and they need special attention and care. Whether your eye care means visiting your eye doctor more regularly, revamping your diet, getting more sleep, or avoiding eye strain, any steps you can take to protect your vision are worthwhile.
By following the right steps, you can lower your risk of eye diseases, increase your chances of maintaining good vision, and maintain a clear sense of the overall health of your eyes.
Visit Your Eye Doctor
For starters, go see your eye doctor! Stop putting off your visit—we heard they miss you! You should schedule a comprehensive eye exam appointment every one or two years. This will allow you to have an accurate, updated prescription.
Let your eye doctor know if you’re dealing with any specific eye conditions or concerns.
For example, if you have chronic dry eyes, your eye doctor can recommend specialized eyedrops or specific lifestyle changes that might help you find relief. In addition, be sure to let your eye doctor know if you have a family history of any eye-related health conditions. This information helps your optometrist better understand what to look for when examining your eyes.
Eat and Rest Well
A balanced diet and plenty of rest can help you avoid vision loss while also supporting your overall health. Combining whole foods and supplements, along with getting enough sleep each night, can help you take good care of your eyes (and the rest of your body, too).
More specifically, make sure you get enough vitamin C, E, and A, as these nutrients are particularly essential for your eyesight. Halibut, a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, can also benefit your eyes.
Making sure to get enough quality sleep each night can also help you avoid issues like irritated eyes and eye strain during the day.
As we’ll discuss more below, taking care of your health can lower your risk for eye diseases related to diabetes, high blood pressure, and other lifestyle-related diseases. Watching what you eat, getting enough exercise, and managing your stress levels can all directly — and indirectly — benefit your eye health.
Wear Sunglasses
Additionally, you should always be wearing sunglasses to avoid eye problems down the road and maintain optimal eye health when you’re out in the sun. Be sure to wear sunglasses with 100% ultraviolet protection for UVA and UVB rays. It is important to protect your eyes from the harmful rays. And, sunglasses are the perfect accessory, so why not?!
Don’t Strain Your Eyes
Everything is good in moderation. This statement also applies when talking about your eyes. Eye strain can occur in many different ways: phones, computer screens, televisions, driving long distances, reading without taking breaks to rest your eyes, etc…. When this happens, try applying the 20-20-20 rule. What is this rule you ask? This simply means every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen (or partaking in any activity that can cause eye strain), you should try to look away at something that is 20 feet away from you for a total of 20 seconds. This break allows the eye to rest and relax a bit.
No matter your eye color, eye strain can lead to vision problems in the long run — and this is one of the many reasons why it’s crucially important to visit your optometrist for regular checkups every year.
An eyecare professional can help you maintain good eye health and give you specific tips on avoiding eye strain and other eye injuries. In addition, your doctor will screen you for common eye diseases like glaucoma and cataracts at your appointment.
Wear Safety Eyewear
We’re not going to give you medical advice (that’s up to your doctor), but we will tell you that safety glasses are definitely good for your health.
Certain activities can place you at a higher risk of eye injuries and eye infections, and you can generally lower these risks by protecting your eyes with specialized glasses.
Personal protective eyewear helps keep harmful particles, chemicals, and other potentially dangerous substances out of your eyes, allowing you to have a bit more peace of mind while you work on heavy-duty tasks.
Not sure when to wear personal protective eyewear? An optometrist or ophthalmologist might instruct you to use PPE any time you’re working in an environment that exposes you to debris, smoke, fumes, or other high-risk substances.
Glasses-wearers can get prescription PPE if needed, and you can wear contact lenses underneath your non-prescription protective eyewear to avoid issues like blurred vision.
Manage Other Conditions
Do you have a health condition that might be impacting your eyes?
For example, if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, you could be at a higher risk of developing a co-existing eye issue. Diabetic retinopathy is a common problem for those with diabetes in which increased blood sugar can damage your retinas over time. This condition often requires attention from an ophthalmology specialist.
Being familiar with the warning signs for co-existing eye conditions and getting help from a specialist can help you stay healthy and prevent an eye disease from getting any worse.
Prioritize Your Eyecare
Maybe it’s your children, spouse, or even the whole family that are in need of eyecare. While this may be the case, this doesn’t diminish your need for updated eyecare and eyewear that you enjoy and love. It's important to treat yourself as well–you deserve it!
The days of hating your eyeglasses and contact lenses are over. Selfcare doesn’t just come in the form of bubble baths and massages. It also presents itself in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and partaking in hobbies that increase confidence and allow you to express yourself honestly and freely.
Eye-care is important.
Eye-care can be fun.
These two statements are not mutually exclusive. Just because you need glasses, doesn’t mean you have to settle for boring prescription glasses. With Pair, you can reimagine eyecare style in a fun, unique way! With a plethora of Base Frame and Top Frame options, there truly are infinite style possibilities that can be had with your Pair!
Sources:
5 Steps to Lower Your Risk of Eye Disease | UCLA Health
Eye Diseases: Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options | Cleveland Clinic