Caring for your eyes is a hugely important task. Sadly, most people have no idea what it takes to keep their eyes in tip top shape. The tips and tricks found below will assist you in making sure your eyes are working for you instead of against you over time.
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.
A wide-brimmed hat can be your best friend when outdoors, especially when the sun is shining. A hat offers a lot of protection for your face, including areas like your eyelids where sun can sneak in around the edges of glasses. Eyelids are a fairly common place for melanoma to develop, so cover up outdoors with a stylish hat whenever you can.
Make sure you always have adequate lighting when you work or read. Your eyes will be straining all the time if you’re trying to see things without sufficient illumination in the room. Over time, this can cause serious damage. Increase your wattage or the number of lighting fixtures in any given room to solve the problem.
Sunglasses are important in the summer, but they’re just as crucial in the winter. This makes sense because of how much light is reflected by snow. Even the clouds are out, the sun’s rays are out and can be harmful to your eyes.
Knowing your family’s history concerning any eye diseases can help you immensely. Some conditions are hereditary and should be taken into account. Early detection can end up being your best defense.
Are you a smoker? If so, stop. Smoking increases the chance that you will have problems with your eyes, like cataracts and macular degeneration. It can be hard to quit, but never stop trying. Even if you’ve failed in the past, you still have a good chance of being able to quit in the future.
Take dry eyes very seriously if you suffer from this condition. While everyone experiences some dryness, either due to being tired or environmental influences, it can be damaging if it’s happening too frequently. Talk to your eye care professional about possible treatments for your dry eyes, to prevent long-term damage.
Keep your eyes protected when dealing with hazardous situations. In certain types of unclean or hazardous environments, you should keep your eyes protected by wearing safety goggles. These also include certain sports. Activities like lacrosse, ice hockey, or racquetball can cause eye injuries, which is why you should wear helmets that have built-in face masks or sports goggles.
If you are a smoker, stop now. There are many associated health risks, and your eye health is one of them. Long-term smokers tend to develop eye problems. If you quit, then your risk is reduced for developing cataracts or damage to the optic nerves.
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 smoke. Along with other things, smoking can really damage your eyes. It can cause cataracts, macular degeneration, and optic nerve damage. Not only that, but it is harmful in other ways to other areas of your body. If you are having a hard time quitting smoking, keep trying, it will be worth it when you are successful.
In order to minimize eye stress, take breaks when you have to spend long periods of time working in front of a computer. Even taking a two-minute break every half hour makes a huge difference when it comes to the toll that the work takes on your eyes, and you will be more productive.
Make sure to have your eyes looked at regularly. Many people, particularly if they do not wear glasses or contacts, have not been to the eye doctor in years. You should go at least once in your 20s and at least twice in your 30s to make sure everything is on track. Once you hit forty, try and visit the eye doctor every three years or so. And, when you reach age 65, you should go every other year.
When you use these tips, you will find that your eyes are healthy and see clearly. Be sure to take great care of your eyes so that they continue to work well long into your golden years. What you’ve learned today will last a lifetime, so be sure to keep using this information long into the future.