Do you eyes feel tired and sore by the end of the day? Modern life
puts a lot of stress on our bodies and eyes are among the first things
to suffer. But it doesn't have to be this way. Learn simple things you
can do for your eye health and your eyes will feel and look much better
in only a few days.
Have your eyes checked every 12 month
Uncorrected
vision problems can progress, and wearing corrective contact lenses or
glasses that are no longer right for you can cause vision problems and
severe headaches.
If your contacts don't feel right in your eyes,
it is probably time to visit an eye doctor, even if it hasn't been a
year since your last visit.
Go for the best quality contact lenses
Not all contact lenses are equal. Some are safe for you, while others put you at risk of damaging your eyes.
See reviews of quality contact lenses.
Knowing what the modern contact lens industry has to offer will help
you make an educated choice, not just blindly follow what your doctor
says.
In summer, always wear sunglasses
It is proven
that UV rays can seriously damage your eyes, but good sunglasses can
prevent this damage. When buying sunglasses, make sure that they block
at least 98% of UV radiation. Contrary to popular belief, light
sunglasses can block UV as well as very dark ones, even though dark
glasses usually offer more protection against bright sunlight.
By
the way, did you know that you need sunglasses on cloudy days as well?
Clouds might provide shade, but they are no barrier for UV light. Clouds
are basically water, and water is UV-transparent.
Finally,
remember that you would need sunglasses even if your contact lenses
offer UV protection. Even a very high quality lens can only protect the
area it covers, but the entire surface of your eye needs protection.
Eat what is good for you and your eyes
The
good news is that there are no foods that would be harmful for your
eyes. Most foods don't affect your eyesight at all, although the right
vitamins and minerals are helpful. Recent studies have shown that
vitamins of the antioxidant group can prevent, or at least slow down,
age-related conditions like macular degeneration and the development of
cataracts. So a healthy diet won't restore eyesight that is already
lost, but it can definitely slow down the process of the disease, or
prevent one from starting.
Vitamins C, A and E, folic acid,
selenium and zinc are definitely beneficial for the health of your eyes.
The effects of the other vitamins and minerals aren't determined yet,
but it seems likely that they affect your eyesight as well.
Thousand-page books have been written on the topic of nutrition for eye
health but, to summarize, it is known that whatever is good for your
body is good for your eyes, too. So put a carrot and a bunch of grapes
into your lunch box.
When you read or work on the computer make sure that the light is right
It is a common knowledge that working with poor light can cause eyestrain, but light that is too bright can do as much damage.
Keep
your blinds down on sunny days and switch off half of the household
lights, if possible. The best lighting for working on the computer is a
soft desk light, coming from the side. Also, you can try decreasing the
brightness of your monitor. The colors won't be so vivid, but your eyes
will feel much better by the end of the day
Give your eyes a health break
The
great invention of the 20th century - computers - is not so great from
the point of view of health. Almost everybody feels discomfort in their
eyes after peering at a computer screen all day long. This is because
people blink about 25% less often then usual, while working at the
computer, which causes eye dryness.
I won't advise you to blink
more often - it is almost impossible to control natural reflexes. One
thing you can do, though, is close your eyes and count to 5 before
opening them, whenever your computer decides to take its sweet time
doing something. Another thing is to look away from the screen and focus
on some faraway object, as often as possible. If you train yourself
into the habit, your eyes should feel much better at the end of your
working day.
If you wear contact lenses, take proper care of them
Contact
lenses don't require a lot or fuss, but you can't neglect their
cleanliness. Every time you put your lenses in or take them out, rinse
them. You should also take care to change the solution, when you are
putting your lenses to rest for the night.
Wear your contact lenses to the recommended schedule
Daily
disposable lenses should be replaced daily, two weeks replacement
lenses should be replaced every two weeks, and so on. Some people try to
save money by wearing their lenses for much longer than is intended.
This isn't a good idea. Even though the quality of the lens itself might
not decline, protein build-up will make your vision less clear. Another
thing to consider is that the longer you wear your lenses, the higher
is your risk of eye infections.
