Your Eye Health: A Quick Guide to Healthy Eyes

Our sight is one of our most precious senses – and one that we use almost every waking second of the day. And yet, it can be easy to overlook (no pun intended) the importance of eye care.

After all, when they are working well, most of us don’t give a second thought to our eyes. We simply carry on about our day as the over 2 million working parts in each eye toil away without gratitude. But it is these complex organs that we have to thank for being able to seamlessly navigate the world around us.

Sight supports our other senses, too. Take touch, for instance: Sight allows us to notice signs that something may be unsafe before we touch it. Metals typically turn a reddish hue when heated, the sight of which warns the brain that they may be dangerous to approach. And countless other examples demonstrate the incredible contributions of our eyes.

And still, we never truly seem to give our eyes the thanks they deserve.

Looking After Your Eyes

Over two million people are living with sight loss in the UK alone. There are many reasons behind sight loss; however, many cases may be preventable by taking certain steps to care for your eyes, including having regular eye tests.

Of course, many people put off having an eye test out of fear they will be told they need glasses. But this diagnosis is nothing to be scared of! Today, there are countless options when it comes to glasses styles and colours. Contact lenses are also an option for most people. And, if these options still aren’t for you (we can’t blame you), there is still the option of Laser Eye Surgery.

But whether you need glasses or not, looking after your eyes is always important. That’s why we’ve put together this list to help you take the important steps to caring for your eyes properly. After all, they deserve it!

8 Simple Steps for Healthy Eyes

Keeping your eyes healthy shouldn’t be a chore. Here are eight easy steps you can take to look after your peepers and ensure you’re seeing bright and clear well through the New Year.

1. Attend regular check-ups

Many people put off an eye test until they notice a problem with their vision. For example, you may not book an appointment until your vision has noticeably deteriorated for a certain amount of time. However, in some cases, this may be too late to ensure the best treatment and outcomes.

Some conditions, such as glaucoma, have virtually no symptoms. But an eye doctor is able to easily detect the problem and initiate treatment before it gets worse.

Whether your eyes feel fine, you’ve developed dry eyes, or you have noticed a change in your vision, it is important to attend eye tests regularly. Many eye conditions can be detected early at a routine eye exam, giving you the best chance of keeping your eyes healthy.

Eye doctors recommend you have an eye test at least once every two years.

2. Check your family history of eye disease

There are more than 350 hereditary eye diseases, including glaucoma, keratoconus, and corneal dystrophies. Being aware of any family history of these conditions can help you and your eye doctor know what to look out for and spot any symptoms early. This can make it easier to diagnose, treat, and manage such conditions.

So, if you haven’t already, share your family history with your optician!

3. Maintain good eye hygiene

It’s hard to think of our eyes as being dirty, but between rubbing our eyelids, applying make-up, and wiping watery eyes, we touch our eyes up to one hundred times a day. This leaves them vulnerable to bacteria that are transferred from our hands and any objects or surfaces we have touched recently.

In an ideal world, we would avoid touching or rubbing our eyes as much as possible. Of course, this is easier said than done. Still, it is a good idea to be more mindful, especially in unclean environments. It should also go without saying that you should always wash you hands thoroughly before touching your eyes. This is particularly important when putting in contact lenses as bacteria can lead to potentially sight-threatening infections!

4. Always use sun protection

Many of us assume that the sun can only damage our eyes on hot, bright days when the sun is shining brightly. However, UV rays are a threat to our eyes even on overcast days.

Therefore, you should always have a pair of high-quality sunglasses to hand. When buying sunglasses, ensure they have full UV protection. This will offer you the highest level of protection, whether it’s sunny or cloudy, and in high-glare conditions, such as if you’re close to water or snow.

Only buy sunglasses that have a CE mark or carry British Standard BS EN ISO 12312-1.

5. Stop smoking, or at least cut back

It is well-known that smoking can be detrimental to your general health. It has been linked to a huge range of diseases, including 10-20 different kinds of cancer. However, most people are unaware of how smoking can affect their eye health.

In fact, tobacco smoke can cause permanent damage to the eyes. Moreover, it can double your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration – the UK’s leading cause of sight loss.

6. Refresh your makeup bag regularly

Many people are unwittingly wearing makeup every day that could be damaging their skin and eyes.

All makeup products have a shelf life, and it is often shorter than we might think. A product’s best-before period can range from just a few months to a few years. That’s why it is important to always check your products regularly and give your makeup bag a refresh when you notice you’ve had a product for too long.

Speaking of makeup, take a look at our article on makeup and eye health!

7. Wear safety goggles when necessary

Safety goggles may not be the most stylish bit of kit, but they sure are effective at protecting your eyes. This is critical if you find yourself in dusty environments or around flying debris. Getting foreign objects or particles in your eyes can cause anything from slight irritation to serious injury and even vision loss.

So, whether you’re in the workplace or any other potentially dangerous environment, be sure to wear eye protection!

8. Eat an eye-friendly diet

When we think of a healthy diet, we don’t tend to think about our eyes. But the fact is, our eyes require certain vitamins and minerals to function at their best. As such, eating an eye-friendly diet can be great for maintaining good eye health and quality of vision.

For example, eye-friendly foods include green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, and kale, as well as foods that are rich on carotenoids (there’s a reason they say carrots can help you see in the dark!). Other foods, such as oranges, kiwis, seeds, nuts, and oily fish are also great for your eyes.

Eating enough of these foods could help you to stave off eye problems, including age-related macular degeneration and cataracts!

If you’d like to learn more about maintaining healthy eyes and achieving your best-corrected vision, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators today. Alternatively, book a no-obligation consultation for the most comprehensive eye exam you’ve ever had!