Did you know that Save Your Vision Month is held every March to increase awareness regarding good eye care? The American Optometric Association (AOA) organizes this annual wellness observance where the main goal is to encourage individuals to get regular eye exams. Your annual eye exam can be compared to your annual physical, but the focus is on your eyes. A regular exam is an important part of your eye health no matter your age! The exam can help ensure your vision is good and your eyes are healthy, too. And if needed, steps can be taken to assist with any eye-related concerns that might come up or that are already present. Save Your Vision Month reminds us not to take eye care for granted. From work to entertainment, eyes are a large part of our everyday life. It is important to note that just like visiting the dentist regularly, regular eye checks are also important. Even if you’re not experiencing any vision problems, don’t take your eyes for granted. For serious eye problems it’s always best to have them examined by a licensed professional.
In the meantime, read on for our 12 Healthy Eye Tips!
1. The Eyes Have It
Whether you're playing baseball in the backyard, drilling, sawing, or just mowing your lawn, it's important to always protect your eyes with safety goggles to prevent injuries and any debris from getting into them.
2. Follow the 20-20-20 Rule
A record number of people of all ages are spending many of the hours each day looking at a computer, tablet or phone. Try this helpful trick! Limit your digital eye strain by adopting the 20/20/20 rule developed by the American Optometric Association. Take a break from your screen every 20 minutes, focusing on something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Curious about blue light and its effects? Read more about it here!
3. Zoom In
Maintain a comfortable working distance from your digital device(s) by using the "zoom" feature to see small print and details, rather than bringing the device closer to your eyes.
4. Here Comes The Sun
Spring and summer are right around the corner! Protect your eyes by investing in a good pair of sunglasses. Look for a pair that blocks 99 percent to 100 percent of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Not only will your eyes appreciate the shade, but you’ll also probably look pretty cool sporting them too. Remember to wear those glasses while driving in the sun! Those windows don’t give you as much protection as you might think. Sun damage can happen quickly, but it also compounds over time, so it is important to be diligent.
5. Make-Over Your Make-up
Eye make-up should be routinely replaced. Mascara and liquid liners should be used no more than 3 months, eye shadows and pencil liners no more than one year. Try and look for make-up that is free of metalics and harsh ingredients such as parabens and aluminum. Avoid water-proof eye make-up if you are a contact lens wearer. Use extreme caution when using eye-lash extensions, as they are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration because of the ingredients in glue that can potentially harm your vision.
6. Quit the Spit
85% of Americans are not properly cleaning or storing their contact lenses. Be sure to only use a high-quality solution to cleanse your contact lenses, and not your saliva. Saliva carries bacteria that belongs in your mouth and can be harmful to your eye. Same for tap water – keep those contaminates out of your eye. It is helpful to carry a travel size solution with you to avoid these unhealthy short cuts.
7. Eat the Rainbow
Your eye health is just as responsive to your diet as heart health. Key nutrients in leafy greens, berries, beets, citrus and even certain fish (high in Omega 3s) are important for healthy vision. A balanced diet of colorful fruits and veggies, eggs and fish is incredibly beneficial in maintaining all areas of your health.
8. Work it Out
Just like exercise reduces your blood pressure, it also reduces your eye pressure which is beneficial for reducing your risk of Glaucoma. Running or walking can reduce the risk of age-related cataracts. Exercising 3-4 times a week can also reduce your risk of AMD (age related macular degeneration). Since many eye diseases are related to high-blood pressure and diabetes, a well-rounded week with physical activities and a healthy diet can help alleviate progression of the diseases.
9. Drink Up
Staying hydrated is important for the health of your eye. Dehydration reduces the lubrication of your eye, which can make eye-strain and dry-eye even more uncomfortable. Dehydration can even cause blurred vision and headaches. Just like proper diet and exercise is important for your overall health, hydration is another way to keep those headaches at bay, so be sure you are getting enough water.
Green Tea is known for it’s various health benefits, but did you know it contains nutrients for healthy eyes? Green tea has Vitamins A and C, lutein and zeaxanthin which are known as ”the eye vitamins” because they have been found offer protection of the development and progression of AMD.
10. Ditch the Smokes
Smoking has been linked to notable increased risk for glaucoma, cataracts, AMD, and diabetic retinopathy. Smoke also exacerbates dry-eye conditions. The good news is, people who quit smoking almost reduce their risk in-line with people who have never smoked!
11. Get to your Eye Doctor
Annual exams go well beyond just having blurry vision. They can detect serious health concerns. For example, diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed with a dilated eye exam. Glaucoma is a silent, sneaky disease that often times can go unnoticed until there is irreparable vision loss.
12. Don’t Forget the Kids
Kids are developing Myopia (nearsightedness) at an alarming rate, and it is affecting all adolescent ages. Since eyesight affected this way progresses to worsening vision, kids that are diagnosed at a young age are at risk for developing glaucoma and cataracts later in life. Often parents don’t take their children in for a comprehensive eye exam because they are being substituted for school offered vision screenings. Vision screenings are just that, a screening. It can alert parents to a possible issue, but often times the screening is given by parent volunteers, and not an actual health provider. Be sure to get your children in for a comprehensive eye exam regularly.
To read about what to expect at our eye exams, click here.
To schedule an eye exam, call us at (337) 239-2020 or request an appointment online.
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