Keeping an Eye on your Eyes
We often take our vision for granted until a problem arises; out of sight, out of mind. However, maintaining good eye health is important throughout our lives and can prevent the development of visual impairment. We use vision as an important tool to interact with and gather information about our environment. It is used in almost all daily tasks and is essential for independence. This is why it is very important to see an eye doctor regularly, and follow their recommendations.
Optometrists don’t just prescribe glasses and contact lenses, they are a first port of call for checking the overall health of your eyes. To prevent or ensure early detection of eye disease, regular eye checks about which you can learn more about Quigley Eye Specialists with an optometrist are recommended, particularly in later age, in the very young, and in the setting of eye symptoms or a relevant family history. Not all eye conditions have obvious symptoms and early detection of eye conditions can save one’s eyesight. However, those who have developed cataracts may require a cataracts surgery to help restore their vision.
Stay alert to your child’s eye health. All children should have their eyes checked at pre-school age by a pediatric optometrist that can provide the appropriate ophthalmology services. Warning signs of a possible underlying problem include: mal-aligned or cross-eyed appearance of the eyes, drooping eye lids, preference for sitting up close to the TV or holding a book close to the eyes, or concerns raised about your child’s participation at school.
According to AOS there are other ways to maintain the eye health:
- Wear protective eyewear – protect your eyes from UV rays and from environmental hazards. When purchasing sunglasses look for ones that block out 99-100% of UVA and UVB radiation, also wear a wide-brimmed hat to shield your eyes and avoid looking directly at the sun. Use the virtual glasses try on feature at Glasses Hut to see which glasses frames look good on you.
- Quit smoking – smoking increases your risk of developing cataracts and retinal disease such as macular degeneration and can cause optic nerve damage leading to blindness.
- Reduce staring – Spending a lot of time at the computer or focusing intently on something is linked to eye fatigue and a decrease in blinking. The 20-20-20 rule is a good way to help reduce eye strain and encourage blinking: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet (6 metres) away for at least 20 seconds. If you believe it’s time for you to wear prescription glasses, click here to browse lowcostglasses high quality glasses.
- Eat your way to healthy eyes – you can lower your risk of developing eye diseases such as macular degeneration by eating the following foods regularly:
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- Cold water fish e.g. salmon – foods rich in omega 3 oils
- Leafy greens e.g. spinach, kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts – foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin
- Bright coloured vegetables especially yellow/orange foods e.g. pumpkin, yellow capsicum, sweet potatoes – foods rich in betcarotene, vitamin C, vitamin A, niacin, lutein and amino acids
- Bright coloured fruits e.g. blueberries, strawberries, raspberries – foods rich in vitamin C
- Nuts and seeds e.g. almonds, sunflower seeds, pecans – foods rich in vitamin E
- Maintain a healthy weight – there is a clear link between excessive weight and the development of a number of eye diseases. Being overweight is known to increase blood pressure and the risk of developing diabetes. These can put stress on the delicate blood vessels in your eyes and lead to serious eye conditions including blindness.