Five Ways You Can Start Taking Better Care Of Your Eyes Today
Losing your vision is incredibly scary. While the prospect of losing your vision or going blind may seem far-fetched, conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration are more common than you'd think. Taking better care of your eyes will mean a lower risk of these and other eye conditions as you age. Plus, good eye care means a lower risk of infections and blurry vision in the short-term. Here are five ways to start taking better care of your eyes today.
Start wearing your sunglasses.
Do your sunglasses sit on your dresser more often than on your face? It's time to change that. Exposure to the UV rays in sunlight increases your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and a whole array of other eye conditions. Good quality sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays will protect your eyes but only if you wear them regularly. Get into the habit of taking them with you in the car and when you spend any amount of time outside.
Take breaks from screens.
If you spend the majority of your day staring at a screen, you're not alone. While screen time may be inevitable, it does have its downfalls. You tend to blink less often when you're looking at a screen, and as a result, your eyes become dry. Not only do dry eyes feel irritated, but they're also at an increased risk of infection. You may also notice that your vision becomes blurry at night after spending many hours in front of a screen.
Try to take a break from staring at your screen every half hour. Look away, blink a few times, and sit with your eyes closed for a minute or two.
Turn down your screen brightness.
Turning down your screen brightness will also make your screen time less irritating. To make it easier to see the words and images on your screen, turn up the contrast when you turn down the brightness. Alternatively, you could ask your eye doctor to recommend a pair of computer glasses. These are similar to sunglasses, but they are made to filter out the specific wavelengths of light that are most irritating when coming from a computer or phone screen.
Eat more omega-3s.
Omega-3 fatty acids play many roles in the body. When eaten in adequate quantities, they help ensure proper drainage of intraocular fluid from the eye. Eating more omega-3s may reduce your risk of developing glaucoma and other conditions related to high eye pressure.
Thankfully, there are many foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Fish--especially cold water fish like salmon and tuna--are great sources. Flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, chia seeds, and many other nuts and seeds are also high in omega-3s. You may also want to start taking a fish oil or flax seed oil supplement as recommended on the package instructions.
Throw out your old makeup.
That mascara you've been using for three years and eye shadow that's been around since high school are probably harboring bacteria that could cause a serious eye infection if they were to get into your eye. Take a few minutes to go through your makeup drawer, and throw out any old products. Experts recommend replacing mascara every 3 months, eyeshadow powder every 2 years, and eyeshadow cream every year. Eyeliner should be tossed every 3–6 months, and foundation should be replaced yearly.
To learn more about the changes you can make to improve your eye health, have a peek at this site and speak to an eye doctor. They can examine your eyes and give you some more personalized recommendations based on your current eye health and your family history of disease.