Which part of your body lets you read the back of a cereal box, check out a rainbow, and see a softball heading your way? If you guessed the eye, you’re right! Even with the backup of our ears and our sense of touch, the world is just not the same without the eyes. Apart from the heart and the brain, the eyes are the next organ which bears much weight of the body’s work. Eyes are one of the most important channels we use to gather information and make sense of the world around us. We also use our eyes to express how we feel knowingly or unwittingly in a way that is often more powerful than spoken words. In truth, the eyes are responsible for 85% of a person’s accumulated knowledge in a lifetime. And so, our eyesight has a bearing on how we understand things, our preferences and even our way of thinking.
Despite of the importance of our eyes, they often receive little attention. But without proper care, our eyes can quickly deteriorate with age, developing eye diseases that can greatly affect our quality of life. It is only fitting then, that we value our eyes, the way we value our face or skin. Like the latter two, our eyes need rest from a hard day’s work and to be protected from the harmful elements that can lead to the eyes’ deterioration like blurry eyesight. Blurry eyesight comes from several different factors. Progressive blurring of the eyes may be an effect of bigger underlying health conditions such as diabetes, while some can be acquired and other conditions may run in the family.
Any ordinary person can tell you that the best way to care for the eyes is to prevent them from being damaged. It’s never too late to start caring for your vision. Here are a few short tips on how to keep your eyes healthy.
# 1 – Eat Foods That Are Rich in Vitamin A
Nutrition is not only necessary for your body, it is also important for your overall eye health. Some recent studies suggest that enough vitamin and antioxidant intake may prevent or at least slow down macular degeneration and cataract progression. So, what is the eye’s “super-vitamin”? Vitamin A! Vitamin A is essential in promoting clear eyesight while acting as a shield for the eyes’ protection from damage. Retinol, a form of Vitamin A, can commonly be found in foods like liver while carotenoids are found in vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes. Carotenoids or beta-carotene in particular are converted into Vitamin A by the body.
#2 – Take Time To Rest Your Eyes & To Blink
Almost everyone feels their eyes become uncomfortable after sitting all day in front of a computer. This happens because the eyes blink less (about 25%) than usual. Working too long in front of the computer and staring too close at the TV can slowly damage your eyes over time. Take breaks by looking out a window or blinking to keep your eyes moist. One thing you can do to retain the moisture in your eyes is simply closing them for about 5 seconds. When working in eye straining conditions, remember the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds to gaze at something 20-feet away. This will give your eye’s the chance they need for a quick rest.
# 3 – Protect Your Eyes From The Sun & Other Intense Light
UV light may cause serious damage to your eyes. We can easily avoid damaging our eyes by adding a hat and sunglasses to our daily wardrobe. Wearing a hat is an easy way to prevent your eyes from direct exposure to sunlight and using sunglasses can be a great way to achieve all-over protection from the sun’s harmful rays. Sunglasses are not just a style, they help to keep our eyes healthy! On a sunny day, sunglasses are used to protect the eyes from harmful UV radiation. When you buy sunglasses make sure that the glasses can reflect at least 98% of UV radiation.
#4 – Get An Eye Exam Every 12-Months
Problems with vision can become worse and more severe if they are not treated properly. If your vision starts blurring, see a doctor. Going in for an annual eye exam will help maintain your eyes- keeping them healthy by scanning for potential problems you could acquire with your eyes. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you should have your prescription checked regularly. Wearing glasses or contact lenses that are no longer the proper strength for your eyes can cause further problems with your vision and lead to headaches, dizziness or more severe conditions.
This month has been dedicated by eye care professionals nationwide to the promotion of healthy vision. Even if you’re lucky enough to have perfect 20/20 vision, the best way to care for your eyes is to prevent them from being damaged. It’s never too late to start caring for your vision, so use these simple tips each day to help keep your eyes healthy!