New Year, New You – Eye Health Tips for 2018

03 Jan New Year, New You – Eye Health Tips for 2018

The new year is a time for reflection, resolutions and turning over a new leaf.

At Eyewise, we want to encourage healthy, restorative behaviour when taking care of your eyes.

Something as simple as having a regular eye exam every 12 to 24 months is the best way to look after the health of your eyes and your vision.

Aside from having regular eye examinations, the Eyewise team have come up with a few tips that will give you the right focus for your eye health in 2018.

1. Eat Healthily

A balanced diet reduces your risk of eye disease. Include lots of omega-3 fats, found in oily fish and lutein, in dark, green, leafy vegetables such a spinach and kale.

For those of you with a family history of macular degeneration (loss of central vision in the eyes), consider having a scan of the back of the eyes at your next appointment. For a small fee, you can benefit from this painless procedure, which is very useful in detecting early changes at the macula.

2. Take Regular Breaks

When doing close work on a computer, tablet, or a smartphone; your eye muscles are very active. This may cause tiredness and headaches, even in those with normal sight.

Follow the 20/20/20 rule– every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. Don’t forget to blink regularly either, as this can help to prevent dry eye.

3. Stop Smoking

Smoking significantly increases the risk of developing eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. It’s never too late to benefit from quitting and reducing your risk, however long you have been smoking for.

4. Wear Sunglasses

UV light is everywhere and even during cloudy days in the UK, we are exposed to UV radiation.

A good quality, well-fitted pair of sunglasses, with a CE British standard mark, will help to protect your eyes from UV damage. Consider polarised lenses as a very effective way of alleviating glare from the snow, a wet road, or even sand on the beach.

5. Change Eye Make-up Regularly

All make-up has a shelf-life, and eye make-up is no exception. Mascara and liquid eyeliner should be discarded every 4 months to prevent redness, irritation and eye infections.

6. Hand hygiene with Contact Lenses

ALWAYS wash, rinse and dry your hands before handling contact lenses. Avoid bathroom environments when handling your contact lenses. Never rinse or store your lenses in tap water.

If you do have any concerns about your eyes, feel free to come in and have a chat over a cup of coffee – we’ll always try our best to help you!