Hindsight may be 20/20, but when it comes to watching out for your eyes, this fact is clear: There’s a lot more to eye health than vision checkups. Here are 10 pointers to optimize eye health:
- Open your eyes to optometry. Early detection of eye diseases increases the likelihood of more effective treatment. Conditions such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration don’t always have warning signs, but are easily assessed during an eye exam by an ophthalmologist (i.e., eye doctor).
- Sport the shades. The sun’s ultraviolet light rays can damage your eyes, and over time lead to conditions such as cataracts. When choosing sunglasses, look for lenses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
- Wear eye protection at work. If you work with heavy machinery, hazardous chemicals, or any other materials that may damage or irritate your eyes, always wear proper protection.
- Give your eyes a break. Are you blinking enough? When we’re focused and deep in thought, our “blinks per minute” rate drops, which affects your eyes’ ability to self-lubricate and irrigate the cornea with clean, necessary moisture. Next time you’re faced with long stretches of time at your computer or on a tablet, remember to periodically look away from the screen and . . . blink!
- Toss out tobacco. Using tobacco products can disrupt blood flow and nutrient delivery to your eyes, which can lead to vision loss over time.
- Keep an eye on your weight. Being overweight or obese may lead to conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, which contribute to declining vision.
- Stop rolling your eyes at healthy foods. Not only is a smart diet essential to maintaining good eye health, but choices that are rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene (oranges and yellow vegetables, for instance) and omega-3 fatty acids (found in salmon, trout, and tuna) help prevent dry eye, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.
- Invisible fitness benefits. As if you need another reason to keep a regular exercise routine, here you go: Staying in shape is good for your eyes. By striving for optimal health, your body is not only better equipped to prevent chronic illness that can lead to poor eye health, but regular exercise can also help ward off conditions such as eye irritation, light sensitivity, and watery eyes.
- Get a handle on your hygiene. Regularly wash your hands, face, and contact lenses to avoid contact from unwanted bacteria. Plus, it’s just a good idea to keep your paws off your face. Your eyes provide a warm and welcoming place for viruses to enter.
- Light up your life. Get strategic about the lighting in your home or workspace to accommodate the tasks at hand. Light sources that are too low or too bright can cause eye strain.
Visit PacificSource.com for free online tools and resources to help you better manage your health.
As a PacificSource member, you can access CaféWell, an online health engagement portal. To get started, go to PacificSource.com, and sign into InTouch. Then, go to Benefits, and select Wellness—CaféWell.