How To Take Care of Your Eyes

cucumber eyes

The eyes are one of the most sensitive and also most spectacular parts of the body, yet they often get overlooked when it comes to health care.  There aren’t many people that would be happy to give up their vision – it’s one of the things that connects us to the world and the people around us.  So what are the best ways to take care of your eyes?

Fruit And Vegetables

These are on the top of almost all health-related lists for a reason.  They are good for you!  Eating lots of carrots, tangerines, spinach, and other fruits and vegetables that are high in Vitamin A and beta-carotene will help your eyes to maintain tissue strength, repair cells, and protect against age-related degeneration and cataracts.  And they’re very tasty too!

Take Your Contact Lenses Out!

For those of you who have not yet opted for Laser Eye Surgery, it may seem tiresome removing them and cleaning them regularly but there are some serious dangers related to leaving your contact lenses in for too long.  Not only can it be extremely uncomfortable but they can cause permanent damage too.  One such risk is that you are depriving your cornea of the oxygen it requires, possibly leading to corneal vascularization (blood vessels growing into the cornea).  Another risk is that the lenses will warp your cornea and affect your sight.  These problems, amongst others, are rare but they do happen and wearing your contact lenses for prolonged periods of time can only intensify the risk.

There are also risks associated with wearing glasses (especially 3D glasses) for long periods of time too.

Drop The Drops

Allergen-reducing eye drops are a God-send for those who suffer from eye-related hay-fever symptoms such as red and itchy eyes but you should use them sparingly.  Although they may improve your symptoms in the short-term, prolonged use could actually make them worse.  Always be wary of what chemicals you put into your eyes, make sure that you read the information sheet that comes in the box, and check with your optician or doctor if you’re unsure about anything.

Lights Out

We all know that we shouldn’t look directly at the sun but actually, looking directly at any bright light source is bad for your eyes – and that includes artificial lights too.  Bright lights can actually cause the cells of the cornea to blister and crack, creating tears, inflammation, and a ‘gritty’ feeling.  Although such symptoms generally dissipate after a few hours, there is a chance that looking directly at a bright light can cause permanent damage to your eyes.  If you’re out and about in the sun, always wear UV protective sunglasses, even if you don’t plan on sun-gazing!

Use Cucumber Like A Film Star

Cucumber not only tastes great but it’s fantastic for reducing puffy eyes too.  Act like a film star every night and place a cold slice of cucumber over each eye for ten minutes.  Your eyes will thank you for it in the morning.