Eyes are an essential part of our daily lives that help us navigate the world around us. We must care for our eyes to prevent injuries or illnesses that could harm our vision, but other than regular eye exams, what else can you do to support your eye health?
Habits that can help you maintain good eye health naturally include:
- Getting enough key vitamins and minerals
- Exercising
- Wearing protective eyewear and sunglasses
- Following the 20-20-20 rule
- Learning your family’s eye health history
- Keeping your hands and contact lenses clean
Maintaining your eye health starts with a visit to your eye care team, but it can continue after your visit with healthy everyday habits for eye health.
Habits to Help Improve Eye Health Naturally
Keeping your eyes healthy and happy can help you maintain your vision and avoid serious eye conditions. These habits can help you maintain good eye health.
Get Enough Key Vitamins and Minerals
Certain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, C, E, and zinc, contain antioxidants that can prevent vision loss by protecting your macula from damage.
You can add these nutrients to your daily diet with colourful vegetables and fruits, such as carrots, red peppers, broccoli, spinach, strawberries, sweet potato, and citrus fruits.
Omega-3 fatty acids in foods like salmon and flaxseed are also highly recommended for supporting eye health and reducing the risk of developing dry eye disease.
Exercise for Better Eye Health
Maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular exercise can help protect your eyes and prevent type 2 diabetes, which can cause damage to the tiny blood vessels in your eyes.
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that can damage your retina’s small arteries and harm your vision, so it’s important to stay fit and maintain a healthy weight to help lower the risk of developing this condition.
Wear Protective Eyewear
Whether you’re engaged in sports or doing a science experiment, protective eyewear is essential for protecting your eyes from injuries such as chemical exposure, sharp objects, or debris that can cause damage to your eyesight.
Wear Sunglasses
Even on cloudy days, UV rays can harm your eyes. Wearing sun protection like sunglasses is essential, even more so when enjoying activities on snow or water.
It’s important to choose sunglasses with full UV protection that can help reduce your risk of developing conditions related to UV exposure, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium, which can cause blurred vision.
Follow the 20-20-20 Rule
Your eyes work hard during the day, and it’s essential to give them a break from time to time. Follow the 20-20-20 rule to ease eye strain from staring at screens. After 20 minutes of screen time, look at an object about 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce eye fatigue.
Learn Your Family’s Eye Health History
Hereditary eye conditions such as glaucoma, retinal degeneration, age-related macular degeneration, and optic atrophy can be passed down through families.
Understanding your family’s eye health history can help you identify any risks and take precautions to preserve your vision with early diagnosis and management of eye diseases.
Keep Your Hands and Contact Lenses Clean
Always clean your hands and disinfect your contact lenses as instructed to reduce the risk of bacterial infection that can affect vision.
Also, replace your contact lenses as directed by the manufacturer or your eye doctor to avoid exposure to germs that can lead to eye infections.
Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly
Regular eye exams can help identify eye health concerns early and prevent vision loss. You should visit your eye doctor at least every 1-2 years, depending on your vision needs and eye health.
Comprehensive eye exams can help detect conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration, which may not have symptoms during their early stages.
During your exam, we may also recommend lifestyle changes, supplements, eyeglasses, or contact lenses to help support your vision. Don’t wait until you have a problem to schedule a checkup. Routine exams are crucial for monitoring and maintaining your vision.
Support for Your Eye Health
Taking care of your eyes goes a long way toward retaining your vision. Incorporating everyday eye health habits into your daily routine can help you maintain good eye health and prevent vision loss.
At Calgary Optometry Centre, we can help you maintain your vision. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing exceptional service and enhancing our patients’ lives by supporting their vision and eye health. Book an appointment today to get the care your eyes deserve!
