Eye health and what we can do to protect our eyes

Sharpening our Vision through dedicated eye care!

People often say that one’s eyes are a doorway to their soul. Maintaining vigilant eye health is of the utmost importance. As one of the primary senses, vision is crucial to our daily lives. Reduce the risk of blindness and vision loss by treating conditions like glaucoma and cataracts early and by maintaining good eye care routines. A regular eye health program might help avoid future eye issues. Simple and straightforward steps to keep your eyes healthy and eyesight clear are outlined here.

Why do some people have poor eye vision?

So, what exactly causes eyesight to deteriorate? There is a plethora of possible responses to this query. Poor eyesight is not a natural part of aging. People of all ages, even those just starting out in life, suffer from vision issues. Deficits in “VITAMIN A” are the primary cause of poor eyesight. To that end, be sure to get enough vitamin A every day. Other factors contribute to poor eyesight as well. Here are a few examples:

1. The Dangers of Prolonged Screen Time

Extended use of electronic devices, such as smartphones and computers, has been linked to a variety of eye health problems, including dry eyes, blurred vision, and neck and shoulder pain. The easiest solution seems to be to reduce our time in front of the screen, but this eye care option is not always easy, and for some people, working on a computer is directly related to their profession. 

If you’re concerned about the negative impacts of screen time, here are some strategies to help enhance eye care:

• Remember the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, glance away from your screen for 20 seconds and look 20 feet ahead.
• Do not position yourself where you will be blown on by the air conditioner.
• Keep a healthy posture as you work on a computer
• If you don’t have your progressive lenses with you, you may use reading glasses.
• If you use a computer for more than six hours a day, you should safeguard your eyes by using blue protective or UV protection glasses.
• Put in some artificial tears or eye drops to help with the dryness.

2. Excessive Exposure to Sun

People usually remember to protect their skin from the sun by putting on sunscreen before going outside, but they sometimes forget that their eyes also require protection. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun may severely damage the cornea and the lens, two of the eye’s most important structures. Getting sunburned on the cornea causes a condition called photokeratitis. However, eye damage isn’t the only risk you take when you don’t wear sunglasses. Sun damage to the eyes may lead to cataracts, cancer, and macular degeneration if proper precautions are not taken.

For eye health, it is therefore advisable to use sunglasses and ones that you are sure also provide protection from ultraviolet (UV) rays. If sunglasses are not properly worn or do not provide enough UV protection, they may cause serious damage to the eyes. Pupils widen when eyes adjust to low light levels or while wearing sunglasses that block out most of the light. With a larger opening, more UV may reach the eye. Eye damage may occur if the lenses are only tinted and do not provide UV protection. Sunglasses with the UV 400 label filter out virtually all of the sun’s harmful UV rays, from UVA and UVB, down to a wavelength of 400 nanometers.

3. Driving at night

Driving, especially at night, can also put your eye health at risk. As already mentioned, in a darker environment the pupil dilates (visual adaptation) and this is the reason why the headlights of oncoming cars irritate you, sometimes resulting in “blinding”. The latter, in addition to being a direct hazard on the road, creates a higher risk of retinal damage. 

Fortunately, there are several strategies available for reducing nighttime driving-related glare for better eye care:

• Get yourself some glasses with anti-glare night driving lenses.
• It’s best to keep your eyes away from the beams of incoming vehicles’ headlights. Keep your eyes low and right when cars are approaching.
• Distracting glare from unclean windows, mirrors, and glasses can only make matters worse. Maintaining clean windows, mirrors, and headlights will help lessen glare when driving at night.

4. Frequently rubbing your eyes

Although it may not appear harmful, rubbing your eyes may cause or exacerbate existing eye health issues. Myopia and glaucoma, two eye conditions that are directly affected by eye rubbing, may become much worse. Excessive rubbing of the eyes might initiate keratoconus. This occurs when the normally round cornea changes form and becomes conical.

The eyes are very delicate, thus we must take special care to safeguard them. If anything gets into the eye, we should gently cleanse it with water or saline, preferably sterile. The conjunctiva is easily damaged by even the tiniest particles, therefore it’s best to avoid squeezing or rubbing your eyes. The chance of a foreign body entering the eye increases while participating in some sports, particularly those involving chlorinated water, wind, and/or fast speed; thus, it is advised that specialized protective eyewear be worn during these activities.

5. Other Possible Concerns

Other possible eye health concerns may include:

• use of contact lenses – users are responsible for keeping them sterile and for according to the manufacturer’s use guidelines.
• use of cosmetics worn around the eyes may cause irritation, so it’s best to stick to tried-and-true formulas that you know you can handle.
• allergic responses affecting eye health by things such plant pollen and household dust which may cause eyes to become red, watery, and irritated.

5 Ways to Protect your Vision

1. Keep your hands away from your eyes, particularly while you’re outdoors, and if you really must touch your eyes, make sure you wash them well with sterile soap and water beforehand. 
2. Keeping your house clean and clear of dust and flies, which Could transfer many different kinds of germs and viruses that are damaging to the eyes, the most significant of which is trachoma and pus infections.
3. You should shut your eyes, relax, and get enough sleep to prevent eye strain. Adjust the lighting above your desk to be more pleasant on the eyes.
4. Your eyes may get dry and irritated if you don’t drink enough water. Your eyes may get swollen, dry, and red as a consequence of this. To produce enough tears, it is crucial to drink enough water. When we drink enough water, the conjunctiva and mucous membrane that covers the eyes remains moist and this helps prevent infection. You should always be prepared for the heat by keeping a bottle of water with you.
5. You can keep your eyes looking bright and healthy by eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, namely those that are high in vitamins A and C. These vitamins are essential for the proper functioning of the tissues that make up the eyes.

Foods that will benefit our Vision

Carrots: Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, a chemical the body transforms into vitamin A. Getting enough vitamin A is essential for good vision. Carrots include another antioxidant called lutein in addition to beta-carotene. Consuming lutein-rich foods has been shown to improve macular pigment density.

Fish: Eat fish, especially salmon, to help keep your eyes healthy. Fish like salmon and others are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. These lipids are considered “good” for you. The retina, located in the rear of the eye, may benefit from omega-3 fatty acids and may help with visual development. Another benefit is that they assist keep your eyes moist.

Nuts and Legumes: Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in nuts as well. It has been shown that the vitamin E in nuts may help prevent age-related macular degeneration. The health of your eyes may be improved by eating foods like walnuts and beans, cashews, Brazil nuts, peanuts, and lentils.

Citrus Fruits: Vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps prevent and treat age-related diseases, is abundant in citrus fruits including oranges, lemons, and grapes. Eye irritation may be avoided and healed using vitamin C’s anti-inflammatory properties. Consuming citrus fruits on a regular basis helps maintain good eyesight. In an oxidative stress model of retinal degeneration, eating grapes in sufficient quantities protects retinal function.

Conclusion

In the same way that you would tend to any other part of your body, you should also take care of your eyes. It’s crucial to provide the eyes the attention they need from the moment we open our eyes in the morning until we close them again at night. Maintaining a certain way of life and implementing a healthy eye care routine can help protect your eyesight and lower the chances of having an eye issue in the future, even though it seems futile to do so if you don’t already have a problem with your eyes.

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