Though it may be frequently overlooked by some, eye care really is a topic that requires a good deal of attention and emphasis. The health of the eyes can have significant implications in just about every aspect of life, and is therefore worthy of real effort. The tips below are intended to help you keep your eyes in great shape and get the eye care you need.
Don’t smoke. You probably already know that there are many serious dangers related to cigarette smoking. One of the less-known dangers is developing Age-related Macular Degeneration(AMD). Several scientific studies have shown that the patients who did smoke were much more likely to develop AMD than those who didn’t smoke. Just another reason not to start smoking or to quit today.
Keep your eyes protected when dealing with hazardous situations. In certain types of unclean or hazardous environments, you should keep your eyes protected by wearing safety goggles. These also include certain sports. Activities like lacrosse, ice hockey, or racquetball can cause eye injuries, which is why you should wear helmets that have built-in face masks or sports goggles.
Know your family’s history of eye issues. Some conditions are hereditary; knowing what your risk is can help with treatment. Consult with older family members to get a good understanding of your family medical history.
Drink plenty of water. As with the rest of your body, your eyes require adequate hydration. If you consume adequate amounts of water, it will help you. Consider talking to your health care professional to find out how much water you need to consume each day based on your weight and activity levels.
Choose a thick, dense eye creme to ensure the skin around your eyes stays taught and firm. Make sure the product you choose includes essential fatty acids as they are a necessity for your most delicate skin. If you are a teen, the time is now to start, but even adults can benefit from starting later.
Be sure to not only get your vision checked every year, but have a comprehensive exam. This often includes other tests which peer inside the eye to check for conditions such as glaucoma or even diabetes. The sooner you catch these issues, the easier it will be to treat them.
Rest your eyes. If you spend long periods of time looking at your computer or focusing on one thing, it can be easy to forget to blink. This causes your eyes to fatigue. Reduce eye strain by looking away every 20 minutes for about twenty seconds. This can help your eyes.
Switch up your makeup after two months. Makeup builds up bacteria. If this is not done regularly, you are increasing the risk of bacteria causing severe harm to your vision. This causes eye damage as well as damage to surrounding skin.
Wear sunglasses as they have a lot of benefits other than aesthetically. Sunglasses keep you from squinting, and they also block harmful rays from the sun to help maintain eye health. If you wear prescription eyeglasses, ask about prescription sunglasses.
A great way to relieve eye strain when using electronics is to incorporate anti-glare covers or screens. Many monitors for computers and tablets use these now and greatly help your eye health over prolonged periods. You should also make sure there are no direct lights on screens to help reduce glare in this way.
If you want to maintain your eyes healthy and you are a smoker, quit smoking. Smokers are more prone to getting optic nerve damage, macular degeneration and cataracts. If you have attempted to quit smoking before and have failed, keep trying. If you need extra motivation, think about the damage smoking can do to your eyes.
When you are outdoors, wear sunglasses. Sunglasses can protect your eyes by blocking harmful rays from the sun. These rays, called ultraviolet rays, can contribute to cataracts as well as macular degeneration. Blocking the rays with sunglasses allows you to protect your eyes while also allowing you to look fashionable.
Keep some form of artificial tear drops around. A lot of eye strain is related to improperly lubricated eyes. By using drops, you can increase the thickness and amount of lubrication your eyes need. If you are sensitive to preservatives, look for a brand that is preservative-free to avoid creating more symptoms.
Just like you keep your face clean, make sure your eyes stay clean as well! It is easy for bacteria to enter the eyes, causing an infection. Always make sure your hands are clean when putting in your contacts. Apply makeup carefully, and do not allow a tissue that you’ve sneezed in to touch your eyes.
Bring a bottle of eye drops to work or school, especially if you are working in front of a computer screen all day. Apply several eye drops to each eye to help restore moisture so that there is a barrier between your eyes and the external elements that can cause irritation, soreness and dryness.
Maintain your ideal weight. Obesity can lead to diabetes. Diabetics usually have many eye problems like glaucoma. If you are overweight, start focusing on losing those extra pounds and getting into shape. Not only will you feel and look better, but it will be a tremendous benefit to the health of your eyes.
Start exercising. You may not realize this, but exercise helps a number of body functions and the eyes are also helped by exercise. When you exercise, your blood circulation improves. In fact, exercise helps reduce pressure in your eyes if you have glaucoma. Add some aerobic exercise to your life, and your eyes will be better for it.
If you wear contact lenses, avoid wearing them for longer than 19 hours. Make sure you don’t sleep with your contact lenses. Your eyes need constant oxygen supply and contacts block oxygen flow to your eyes. Doing this can permanently damage your sight and create great discomfort for your eyes.
It is sometimes easy to take eye care for granted, particularly if you have never experienced problems with your vision. However, because eye health can have an impact on overall health, it is important to take eye care seriously. By keeping the above advice handy, you can be prepared for anything that comes your way.