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We all want to properly take care of our eyes as we age. Sight is our most important sense, and yet we tend to take our eyes for granted until something is wrong with them. Then we panic. But it doesn’t have to be like that. A little prevention can go a long way towards ensuring that you have healthy eyesight well into your later years. Knowledge is power in this case because you want to avoid activities that could damage your eyes. But many people simply don’t know that some of the things they do regularly can end up damaging their eyesight.
Take a look and see if there’s anything on this list that surprises you.
Leaving The House Without Protection
If you’re just popping out to run some errands, you may think you’re fine without eye protection. And unless you’re staring at the sun, you’ll be fine when you get home. But over the years, continually leaving your eyes unprotected from UV light can damage your vision and lead to maladies like cataracts and macular degeneration. Even if you’re just going for a walk around the block, protect your eyes with UV-blocking sunglasses. And a hat certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Eating Poorly
What you put into your body can have a significant effect on how it performs. An unhealthy diet won’t provide your body with the nutrients it needs to keep your eyes healthy through old age. The AAO recommends eating a diet rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, Vitamins C and E, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. Want to start eating a more eye-healthy diet? Check out a few of our favorite recipes.
Rubbing Your Eyes
This is tough for people with allergies, but rubbing your eyes when they’re itchy can cause damage, especially if it’s frequent. Instead, try running a towel under cold water and laying it over your eyes for a few minutes.
Common Household Cleaning
Most people realize that they need safety goggles when they’re working with power tools or using a weed whacker. Hopefully you fall in that category. But many people consistently perform other chores and tasks without taking any precautions for their eyes. There are thousands of cases of people getting cleaning products in their eyes each year. You might feel a little silly, but it’s better to protect your eyes when you’re working with any potentially dangerous chemicals.
Staring At Screens
It’s important to distinguish that this last item on our list won’t actually damage your eyes. However, you’ve likely already experienced some of the unpleasant side effects that can come with extended screen time. Headaches, strained vision, and dry eye are all possible side effects. One solution is to simply take more frequent breaks from your screens. Remember that you don’t blink as much while staring at a screen—that’s part of what leads to dry and strained eyes. So it’s also smart to consciously try to remember to blink more often.
It’s so important that you protect the vision that you have right now. But if you’re looking to improve that vision, then we can help there, too. Contact us at OCLI today to learn more about your options for LASIK eye surgery.
