There’s more than one way to make sure your eyes are as healthy as possible. When you take great care of your eyes, you take great care of your entire body. Check out our eight tips to maintain healthy vision and eyes throughout your entire life:
1. Have routine eye exams
You might think that your vision is fine and that your eyes are healthy, but having a routine eye exam every two years is essential in maintaining optimum visual health. At this exam, your eyes will be dilated so the doctor can see into your retina, your vision will be checked and you’ll be screened for eye disorders and diseases. You may discover that your quality of vision could be drastically improved with glasses or contact lenses. Or your doctor may detect a disease like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration or diabetic eye disease.
2. Eat well
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, especially dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale, collards and broccoli is important for keeping eyes healthy. Also, research has shown numerous eye-health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as tuna, halibut and salmon.
3. Quit smoking
Smoking has a negative impact on your heart and lungs, but did you know it’s also bad for your eyes? Research has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing macular degeneration, cataracts and optic nerve damage – all of which can eventually cause blindness.
4. Keep a healthy weight
You are at a higher risk of developing diabetes if you’re overweight or obese. Diabetes can lead to vision loss, like diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. Talk to your doctor if you’re having trouble maintaining a healthy weight.
5. Wear protective eyewear
According to the CDC, each day about 2,000 US workers experience a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. No matter the activity you’re participating in at work or play, always wear appropriate eyewear. Those include safety glasses or goggles, safety shields, eye guards or sunglasses.
6. Know your family history
Talk to your family about their eye health history and any conditions they may have been diagnosed with. Many eye diseases and conditions are hereditary and this will help you and your doctor determine if you are at a higher risk for developing a disease or condition.
7. Give your eyes a break
Do you spend a lot of time staring at a screen or focusing on one thing? Sometimes you may forget to blink and your eyes become fatigued. Try this 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes look away about 20 feet ahead of you for 20 seconds. This helps your eyes relax and reduces eyestrain.
8. Wash your hands and contact lenses the right way
Avoid the risk of infection by always washing your hands before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses and appropriately replace them.
To schedule your routine eye exam, contact Illinois Eye Center, at (309) 243-2400. Also, make sure to visit our website for more eye health information at www.illinoiseyecenter.com.