Your eyes are probably one of the most important organs in your body, besides your heart and lungs, of course, so keeping your eyes in the best shape they can be in is pretty important, but what can you do to ensure healthy eyesight it’s not like you can do eye sit-ups or lift eye weights, right? So, how on earth can we keep our peepers healthy and working properly, below is a set of helpful tips that we hope will support healthy eyesight?
- Eating a healthy diet that will promote good vision. Most people when you say about food and eyesight first think of carrots and while the beta-carotene is good for your body there are many other foods out there that can help keep your eyesight healthy. Some examples of other eye healthy foods include…leafy greens which are full of lutein and zeaxanthin which are antioxidants shown to lower the risk of macular degeneration and even cataracts. Eggs are another great source of lutein and zeaxanthin and also zinc. Citrus and berries high in vitamin C can help with macular degeneration and cataracts as well. Almonds are packed full of vitamin E, by eating a handful (about an ounce) you will get about half of your daily dose of vitamin E. Fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, anchovies and trout are filled with DHA, which is a fatty acid found in your retina. Having a diet rich in these foods can help in keeping your eyesight in the best possible shape.
- If you are smoking, now is the best time to stop. Those people who smoke have a higher chance of cataracts, optic nerve damage and macular degeneration. Stopping smoking is no easy task I know, but your eyesight is very important not to mention all the other health issues related to cigarette smoking.
- Wear your sunglasses when outside, even if it’s partly cloudy or winter anytime you go outside you should wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays. Exposing your eyes to the UV rays on a regular basis will increase your risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. A good pair of sunglasses can block 99-100% of the UVA and UVB rays.
- Use safety goggles when tasks require them. If you are working around the house or the job with hazardous or airborne materials it is best to wear protective eyewear. Keep your eyes from being exposed to hazardous materials. This also applies if you play sports be sure to wear sports quality protective eyewear.
- Don’t stare at the computer screen for too long. This can also be applied to smartphones, tablets, and televisions. When you stare at a screen too long you can strain your eyes, get blurry vision, headaches, dry eyes, neck, back or shoulder pain and even begin to have trouble focusing at a distance. With so much technology today at our fingertips we really need to be conscious of the amount of time we spend staring at the screens.
- Finally, get a regular checkup from your eye doctor. Your doctor can keep an eye on your eyes and that way they can see any issues when they first begin before they become big issues.