Tips to Look After Your Eyes

Our eyes are precious and, like our teeth, need to be regularly examined to make sure they’re functioning as they should.  Even if you don’t wear glasses or contact lenses, it’s still important to have your eyes looked at by a professional every couple of years. Most general eye tests are free of charge, after all.

Like our teeth, there are things you can do personally to ensure your eyes stay in top condition in between visits to your optician.  The following, for instance, can help to ensure your eyes remain healthy for as long as possible:

Stay slim

Eye diseases are nasty and can develop as a result of certain medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.  Green leafy vegetables are the best foods you can eat for your eye health.  This includes broccoli, kale, beans and spinach, in particular. Fish rich in omega 3 oils are also recommended for eyesight. That means salmon, halibut, tuna and oily fish in general. 

Stop smoking

Just like your chances of developing lung cancer are higher if you smoke, you’re also 50 per cent more likely to get age-related macular degeneration. It’s certainly another great reason to stub out that cigarette.

Avoid direct sunlight

Strong UVA and UVB rays can hurt your eyes, even to the extent of increasing the possibility of developing cataracts.  For this reason, it’s important to always wear shades or, if you have contact lenses, to make sure they have a built-in UV filter.

Try supportive herbs

Our NutraVision formula contains a range of herbs aimed at ensuring good eye health. There’s Bilberry to ensure the blood flow to your eye is supported, and Eyebright to support the retina and vision in general.  Kiwi Fruit and Orange Pepper give the tea a pleasurable fruity zing.  Perfect for anyone who’s looking to maintain normal eye health.

Wear safety glasses

Those working with chemicals or machinery should always wear safety glasses to prevent any occupational eye injuries. The same applies to sports, especially those involving a racquet, such as squash, badminton, tennis, padel etc.

Get away from the glare

Most of us spend far too much times these days gazing at a screen, whether that’s a work computer, home laptop or even our mobile phone. To combat this, try what is known as the 20-20-20 rule. This is to look 20 feet into the distance for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes when sitting in front of a screen.

Wash your hands

Putting dirty fingers near your eyes when inserting or taking out contact lenses really isn’t clever. It’s an easy way to get an eye infection, for a start.

Some of the more common eye infections

Pink eye

Also known as conjunctivitis, this is caused by a virus or bacterial infection.  It can be catching and results in a red eye followed by discharge. Often, it’ll go away on it is own. If not, you should contact an optometrist.

Keratitis

This is a serious eye infection where the cornea is inflamed. It can be caused by dirty contact lenses or a bacterial/viral infection.  If left untreated for long it can result in a loss of vision.  Severe cases can cause permanent vision difficulties. Treatment is usually eye drops until the infection clears.

Blepharitis

This isn’t a problem with the eye, but rather the edge of the eyelids. Tiny oil glands build up and leave residue on the bottom of the eyelashes, resulting in a crust and redness. Washing the eyelids with a lukewarm pad every day can help the condition. So too, can covering the eyelids with a warm compress from time to time so soothe the skin.