EYE CARE FOR HEALTHY EYES
You probably know it’s important to have an annual eye exam, but did you know that a personal daily eye care routine helps promote your overall health during the time in between those visits? Here are some easy steps including daily protection, healthy diet and bedtime routines to help you care for your eyes,
KEEP EYES HEALTHY BETWEEN EXAMS
- WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHEN NEEDED.
Up to 90% of eye injuries from sports, yard work, home repair and working in high-risk situations can be avoided with eye protection.
- WEAR GOOD PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES TO USE YEAR ROUND.
Everyone in your family including young kids should wear sun with polarized lenses to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays all year long even in the shade and during winter.
- BE SMART WITH DIGITAL SCREENS.
Between computers, smart-phones, e-readers, tablets and TVs, our eyes are constantly exposed to screens. Promote better daily eye care by considering anti-reflective lenses for your eyewear and taking frequent breaks.
- BEST FOOD FOR EYES HEALTH
Personal eye care includes more than just your eyes. Make sure your daily diet includes plenty of fruits and veggies, whole grains and lots of water to hydrate your body from the inside out. Eating well has so many benefits, including maintaining healthy eyes.
- HANDS OFF YOUR EYES
Touching your eyes frequently will expose them to bacteria and germs. Plus, rubbing too hard can irritate your eyes further, or even break a blood vessel.
- TAKE OUT YOUR CONTACTS
Even if your contacts are approved for overnight wear, it’s still best for your eye health to avoid sleeping in contact lenses. Sleeping contact free allows your eyes to breathe and eliminates opportunity for bacteria to grow on your contacts.
- REMOVE MAKEUP
Eye makeup can clog the glands around your eyes and irritate your skin. A better alternative: take a few minutes to carefully remove your makeup before hitting the pillow.
HOW TO LIVE HAPPILY WITH EYE ALLERGIES
WHAT ARE EYE ALLERGIES?
Allergies happen when the eyes react to allergens like grass, pollen and mold that irritate them. To fight off allergens, the eyes produce something called histamine. The result is that the eyelids and the thin membrane inside them become red, swollen, and itchy.
TIPS TO KEEP EYE ALLERGIES UNDER CONTROL
• Save outdoor fun for the day after a rain shower; it reduces pollen in the air.
• Stay inside on windy and peak pollen/pollutant days throughout the season.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses to shield your eyes from airborne allergens.
• Talk to your doctor about safe eye drops to soothe irritation.
• Don’t rub your eyes.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EYES
WHY ARE EYES IMPORTANT?
Your eyes are made up of two million moving parts, working together to bring you perfect vision. When something this complex is off by even just a little, you may not be seeing your best. While good eyesight is always essential, precise vision plays an important role in sending emails and texts, reading menus and street signs, driving safely day and night or catching a movie with friends. prescriptions change subtly over time, so you may believe you’re seeing everything perfectly when you’re unconsciously straining your eyes to see properly. If you’re experiencing frequent headaches, neck aches or squinting, you may need a new prescription. Remember, taking the importance of your eyes for granted could mean having vision that’s less than 20/20 causing you to miss the big (or little) things that really count.
SIGNS YOU NEED GLASSES OR A NEW PRESCRIPTION
1. Holding objects a little further away to see clearly
2. Having difficulty reading small print
3. Increasing the text size on your computer or phone
4. Experiencing frequent headaches
5. Bothered by glare or bright sunlight
6. Noticing ghosting, double images or hazy vision