Top 10 Tips For Improving And Maintaining Perfect Eyesight

October 05, 2017 October 05, 2017

These days, when most of our time is spent constantly looking at bright television and phone screens, finding time to really take care of our eyesight can be a difficult thing to do. Maintaining perfect eyesight can be tricky with so many of us using computers at the office, switching to phones at lunch and binge-watching Netflix at home to relax after a long day of work. Conscious and consistent everyday effort is, therefore, the only possible way to improve and maintain perfect eyesight.

HEALTHY DIET MAY HELP IMPROVE EYESIGHT

The saying “you are what you eat” is highly applicable in eye care. Perfect eyesight is closely linked with nutrition: while some foods might ward off vision problems, high-sodium, fatty or processed foods do nothing to keep our eyesight (and waistlines!) healthy. People living with diet-related conditions like obesity or diabetes are about 60% likely to have less-than-perfect eyesight. Another diabetes-related eye disorder is diabetic retinopathy – this is a more serious illness that can lead to loss of eyesight. A well-balanced diet helps you maintain a healthy weight and – in some instances - even increase your eyesight. A healthy approach to diet and exercise lowers your odds of obesity and related diseases, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

VISIT AN EYE DOCTOR REGULARLY

It is crucial that you see the right kind of eye care professional at the right time, as opticians, ophthalmologists and optometrists all deal with eye care but have different training and expertise. For adults older than 40, a full check-up should be something that is done annually. Regular vision screenings and eye examinations with the usual Snellen chart or other eyesight charts should be carried out during usual doctor’s appointments. This will help test your visual acuity – your sharpness of vision - and prevent possible symptoms from escalating. Any itching, swelling or puffiness of the eyes should be reported to the doctor as soon as these symptoms are noticed. Educating yourself on what to look out for when it comes to these symptoms is important.

WEAR UV-PROTECTED SUNGLASSES

Wearing plain sunglasses is not the healthiest choice for maintaining perfect eyesight – they aren’t meant to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Opticians recommend sunglasses that screen out 75-95% of visible light while blocking out 99-100% of ultraviolet rays. Some conditions like brown cataracts and age-related macular degeneration have been directly linked to exposure to sunlight. Sunglasses should be treated with a UV-protective solution to prevent direct exposure to sunlight whether or not you are predisposed to any eye-related illnesses.

WEAR ONLY GLASSES AND CONTACTS PRESCRIBED BY YOUR OPTOMETRIST

If you have been already diagnosed with an eye-related condition, it is important that you wear the glasses or contacts recommended by your doctor. Choosing to wear any eyewear other than your prescribed pair or failing to wear them all together can increase eye strain, thus doing more harm to your eyesight. You should remember to replace contacts and glasses according to the schedule provided by your doctor as wearing it longer than the recommended period can result in serious health effects.

GIVING YOUR EYES A REST MAY IMPROVE EYESIGHT

Long hours in front of a computer screen can lead to serious eye strain or the so-called computer vision syndrome. HEV (High Energy Visible Light) often known as blue light emitted by these screens is a known cause of damage to eye tissues. Taking 20 to 40-second breaks while using these devices can alleviate the strain on your eyes caused by prolonged eye contact. Another great option for maintaining perfect eyesight is to invest in a pair computer glasses or a screen glare filter for an older monitor. Sitting at an arm’s length away from your computer screen can also decrease the amount of HEV that reaches your eyes.

GET YOUR EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP

What’s the easiest way to improve your eyesight? Doctors all over the world recommend at least eight hours of sleep daily. Although that isn’t always possible, it is important that you try and get six to eight hours a night to better your eye health. Not getting enough sleep can result in eye irritation and fatigue, blurred vision and many other eye-related problems.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR SYMPTOMS

Be on the lookout for itching, swelling, blurred or rapidly decreasing vision – any of this should ring an alarm to see an optometrist ASAP - no matter how small or insignificant you think the symptom is. Constantly neglecting pain, itchiness or redness can lead to a more serious condition or permanent defects. The most common symptoms to look out for are: blurriness and loss of focus, redness and discomfort, blind spots or temporary vision loss can all be symptoms of a bigger problem and could result in a permanent loss of eyesight if overlooked.

STEPPING UP YOUR PERSONAL HYGIENE MAY HELP IMPROVE EYESIGHT

Bacteria can thrive in makeup and body care products that aren’t used within their expiration dates. It’s very important to have a regular routine of cleaning your makeup brushes, clearing out expired products and taking off your makeup before bed to avoid bacteria from getting into your eyes. It’s always best to do all of the simple things to maintain your eyesight than to get expensive treatments afterwards.

SAFETY FIRST

Safety glasses and protective eyewear is a must if you work construction or manufacturing. Protective eyewear should also be worn when doing basic home repairs like drilling, painting and other household chores like mowing the lawn or cleaning the oven at home. Sharp bits of grass, wood, paint splatters and chemicals strong enough to clean appliances can definitely damage your eyes.

LOSE THE BAD HABITS

Loss of eyesight is not something that happens in a day, most of it is a result of a long-term problem. Some of the more harmful habits include constantly reading in dim light, smoking, using glasses or contacts without UV protection and using a wrong prescription of lenses or contacts. Constant use of eye drops as a quick-fix measure can cause a whole other set of problems once your body becomes resistant to the effect of a particular drug. Maintaining perfect eyesight is something that requires a great deal of health-consciousness, care and routine check-ups, but is definitely worth the trouble in the long run.