How to keep your eyes healthy

Published on 17th January 2019

Now that the New Year has come around, many of you are probably focusing on improving and maintaining your physical health by working out and watching what you eat. But have you thought about your eye health and how to look after and maintain this?

Don’t worry if you haven’t, there’s still time for you to focus on your vision! In this blog, we’ll be providing you with some of the top ways to keep your eyes healthy

Eat healthily

Good eye health starts with what you eat. Foods containing nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc and vitamins C and E can keep your eyes healthy and even delay the onset of age-related problems such as cataract and macular degeneration.

To get these nutrients, fill your plate with the following foods:  

• Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and cabbage.
• Oily fish such as tuna, salmon and mackerel
• Non-meat protein sources such as beans, nuts and eggs
• Citrus fruits and juices
• Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables e.g berries, melon, carrots and peppers (to name just a few)

Quit Smoking

Although it can be hard, stopping smoking is highly beneficial to your eyes. Smoking makes you more likely to get cataracts and causes damage to your optic nerve amongst many other health issues.

If you’ve tried to stop before, try again and keep at it. If you feel like you need any help or advice just ask your GP for help.

Wear Sunglasses

 
Although the weather in the UK isn't known for being the greatest, it’s important that you wear sunglasses when the weather is good. Too much exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays encourages the onset of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Choose a pair which blocks 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays and features polarised lenses to reduce glare whilst driving.

Take regular screen breaks

 
Staring at your screen or computer screen for too long can cause:

• Eyestrain
• Blurred vision
• Trouble focusing at a distance
• Dry eyes
• Headaches
  
  

Taking regular breaks every 20 minutes can help your eyes to repair. Get up at least every 2 hours and take a 15-minute break.

We hope these tips help you to look after your eyes in 2019.

If you’re wanting to improve your vision with laser eye surgery, now is the perfect time! At Visualase, we pride ourselves on providing the highest levels of patient care from consultation, right through to aftercare.

Contact us today to book your consultation and assessment at our Bolton based clinic.

All eye surgical procedures carry a level of risk including not obtaining the desired outcome, through to varying levels of visual loss. Your eye surgeon will discuss the risks and benefits, including ones specific to your circumstances, at the time of your pre-operative consultation.