We should all take good care of our eyes. Without eyes, you would have a difficult time in the world! This article can help fill in the gaps with your eye care knowledge. Keep reading to discover how to better care for your eyes.
The best advice in eye care is to have regular eye exams. Especially if you’ve reached the age of 40, your eyes need more attention than ever before. Various diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, can have a very negative impact on vision. Regular examinations will ensure eye health is protected.
If eye problems seem to run in your family, visit an eyecare professional. Hereditary conditions can be tested for ahead of time. If something is found, early treatment can help keep things from progressing.
Drink plenty of water to keep your eyes hydrated. Your eyes are made mostly of water, and they need to stay moist at all times to remain healthy. Dry eyes are more prone to eye problems and diseases. Keeping your body fully hydrated will ensure that your eyes stay moisturized.
Know your family’s eye health history. A lot of eye conditions are genetic and it will be easier for a doctor to help you if you know of your risks. Speak with elders in the family so you can have an idea of your family history.
If you regularly wear contacts, keep a pair of backup prescription eye glasses. When experiencing irritation in the eye, you should remove the contact and wear a pair of prescription eye glasses. Keeping a contact lens in your eye while the eye is irritated can turn this seemingly small problem into something much larger, such as corneal ulcer.
Avoid glare when possible, including that from your electronic devices. Glare is a concentration of bright light, so you know it is not good for your eyes. If you are using your device where glare is an issue, you should purchase an anti-glare screen protector for your laptop, phone or tablet.
Don’t strain the eyes for too long. When you strain your vision and focus on something, such as a computer or television screen, you typically forget to blink as much as you should. When you don’t blink enough, it means your eyes are getting the lubrication they need, which can lead to more serious problems.
Get healthy today. There are a lot of different aspects behind “getting healthy” and they all have a direct relation to the health of your eyes. Eating healthy will provide your eyes and the skin around your eyes with the vitamins they need. Exercising will increase blood flow and lower pressure around the eyes.
Monitor the AC or heating in your house. Many times an HVAC system can cause dry eyes. Rather than avoiding using the heater, you can also run the humidifier to add moisture to the air. Moisture helps keep your eyes from becoming dry and irritated.
Always wear safety goggles when coming in contact with hazardous materials, regardless of if you are at work or at home. It is best to keep a pair of these goggles in both locations, just in case you are faced with a situation where you need them. Do not take the safety of your eyes for granted.
When you are reading, make sure that you have adequate lighting. Reading in low light can cause your eyes to strain unnecessarily. This can lead to eye discomfort and potential problems. Read by a window that provides bright light, or turn on more lights indoors when you are reading at night.
Try not to use eye drops too frequently. They feel good, but they can and do cause other problems. If eye drops aren’t adequately soothing your eyes, talk to your doctor about alternative treatments.
Try to always wear sunglasses if you are going to be out in the sun. Having your eyes exposed to too much ultraviolet makes you more susceptible to getting macular degeneration and cataracts. Make sure you choose sunglasses that block from 99% to 100% of the UVB and UVA rays.
Eat foods that promote good eye health. Foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins E and C, as well as foods that contain lutein, are excellent choices. Some foods that contain those substances are wild salmon, citrus fruits, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables. Have these foods every day so that your eyes continue to be healthy.
If you want to maintain your eyes healthy and you are a smoker, quit smoking. Smokers are more prone to getting optic nerve damage, macular degeneration and cataracts. If you have attempted to quit smoking before and have failed, keep trying. If you need extra motivation, think about the damage smoking can do to your eyes.
Try not to read in the dark or in a dimly lit area. You can strain your eyes when you are trying to read without enough light. Your eyes are already working hard to do the actual reading, so the additional strain of adjusting to the lack of light can overwork them. This can also lead to fatigue and headaches. Make sure the area where you are reading is properly lit.
Place cucumber or tomato slices on your eyes. It helps them to look and feel fresh. Simply set aside about twenty minutes to relax with the slices on your lids. You should start to see a difference if you do this several times per week, and your friends and family members may notice as well!
A hyperosmotic can really help ease the symptoms of corneal swelling. It is a solution that pulls water away from your cornea, helping with the swelling. The solution should have two-percent sodium chloride. The five-percent solution could sting.
Proper health care includes caring for the eyes. You should have learned something from this reading. Now, you need to apply the information. This way you will improve your eye health and want to share your knowledge with those that are important to you.
If you are among the many still smoking cigarettes, stop now. Even though you may be aware of the potential damage to your lungs, your eyes are suffering also. Those who smoke long term are more prone to eye disease. Quitting now will reduce your risk of cataracts and optic nerve damage.
Always wash your hands before you touch your eyes. Your fingers are covered with bacteria because your hands touch surfaces that other people have touched. If you touch your eyes without washing your hands, you will transfer bacteria to your eyes and cause irritation or even an infection. Therefore, before touching your eyes, wash your hands with soap and water.
Just as with your teeth, regular checkups are also an important part of maintaining proper eye health. Unless you have vision problems, the annual screenings that you got at school are probably enough, and then just once in your twenties and twice in your 30s. After age 40, step that up to every two years.
Avoid exposing your eyes to bright light for a long period of time. The bright light can cause your eye muscles to strain. They can also damage your eyes. If you are out in the sun all day long, wear a hat and a pair of sunglasses that offer UV protection.
To keep your eyes happy, have a spare pair of glasses on hand for when your eyes just aren’t in the mood for contact lenses. Forcing lenses onto irritated eyes is a recipe for disturbed vision, and you are likely to turn a minor problem into a major source of pain.