Are you educated enough about eye health to keep them healthy as you age? When is the last time you made an eye appointment with an eye doctor? If you have not seen one in a while, now is the time to change your habits.
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.
Do you have eye problems in your family’s history? Knowing something runs in your family allows your doctor to check for it more frequently. Becoming aware of these conditions can help you seek treatment earlier.
It is very important to protect your eyes from direct sunlight, so make sure to wear sunglasses when you are outdoors or driving. The polarized sunglasses are best since they protect your sight by filtering out the UVA rays of the sun that can cause glaucoma and some other eye diseases.
People who wear contacts need to take particularly good care of their eyes. While contacts are very useful for vision, if the materials are not properly cleaned and maintained, it can be potentially damaging to eyes. Make sure your contacts are the right prescription and that you follow all instructions provided by your health care professional.
Do you play sports? Certain contact sports, like lacrosse and ice hockey, can be dangerous for your eyes. Make sure you wear either sports goggles or a face mask to limit your risk. While it may seem strange to wear them at first, you will quickly get used to them.
It’s a good idea to have a saline solution in your house to use as an eye flush. Goggles can help you keep your eyes safe on the job or in the yard. These may also be useful in the home. If you get soap or household cleaning chemicals in your eye, the best thing you can do right away is to clean your eyes with a saline solution.
Make sure to consume copious amounts of Vitamin A during the course of the day. Vitamin A is great for helping to reduce the inflammation and irritation that you may feel, which can cause dryness. Foods that have high sources of this vitamin include carrots, chicken, potatoes, spinach and sweet potatoes.
Remember to replace your contact lenses at least once every three months. Two months is actually a much better target, or even one month. Many people forget to replace their contacts as frequently as they should, which later leads to more serious problems in the eyes, such as irritation, ulcers, or infections.
Use a cotton wool pad soaked in a solution of rose water and a couple of drops of castor oil. When you place these pads on the eyelids, you can reduce the effects of eye burn. Other irritating issues with your eyes can be diminished or avoided using this method as well.
Antioxidants can help prevent many eye problems. Studies have proven that antioxidants can help curb some of the biological deterioration people who are aging experience. It is believed antioxidants help by preventing cell damage oxidation causes. You can consume antioxidants through certain foods or even take a supplement; but, be sure to consult with a doctor first before taking one.
Try to always wear sunglasses if you are going to be out in the sun. Having your eyes exposed to too much ultraviolet makes you more susceptible to getting macular degeneration and cataracts. Make sure you choose sunglasses that block from 99% to 100% of the UVB and UVA rays.
While sunglasses are helpful for protecting your eyes from the sun’s UV rays, it may also be wise to wear a wide-brimmed hat. Wearing this kind of hat prevents any UV rays from reaching your whole face, including your eyes. So, if you know you will be outdoors for a long period of time, wear this kind of hat.
Try to give up nicotine. Smoking can impact the blood flow to the eyes. That’s not all, smoking also damages your optic nerve and can cause cataracts. Cut back and stop smoking in order to protect your vision.
If you wear eye glasses, be sure you still visit your eye doctor at least once a year. It is very possible for your glasses to stop doing their job; chances are, you will realize this is the case when you begin having vision issues. Your doctor may have to give you new glasses or adjust the ones you already have.
You may not realize how important staying physically fit is for the health of your eyes. Being overweight can cause a number of health problems, one of them being glaucoma. Exercising for about a half an hour each day can reduce pressure on your eyes by as much as 20%!
If your eyes get dry and irritated as you sleep, use an ointment for them. These ointments serve as good lubrication, but persist longer because they are not water based. A disadvantage is that it can cause blurry vision when applied, which is why you use them at bedtime before sleeping.
Get a dilated eye exam regularly. When your eyes are dilated, your eye doctor can see inside your eye and detect any problems with the tissues behind your eyes. Common eye problems like glaucoma often produce no signs of warning until a person’s vision is impaired. A dilated eye exam can detect that early.
Bad eye health can come about from many different causes. You have to be sure what good eye care is about. When you are done reading this valuable information, you will understand what it takes to keep your eyes healthy.
