There’s a growing need for eye health awareness, and even the latest CDC data is three years old. Look at the following statistics and review the tips to keep your eyes healthy longer.
- 14 million Americans over 12 reported visual impairment. Among them, 11 million could enjoy 20/40 eyesight if they wore glasses or contacts.
- 3.4 million Americans over 40 are blind or visually impaired.
“The human eye is a marvel of built-in engineering, combining reflected light, lens imaging capability, multiple lighting adjustments and information processing—all in the space of your eyeball. When working properly, the human eye converts light into impulses that are conveyed to the brain and interpreted as images,” according to Kudo Care Center, With such widespread challenges to overcome, how can you protect your eyes to ensure that you see into a brighter future?
Here are five tips to follow daily, weekly and monthly for good eye health.
Daily
Eat Healthy Vision Foods
When you eat lots of fruits and vegetables, you get the vitamins and minerals to maintain healthy vision.
Avoid Computer and Digital Strain
Our computers, phones and tablets are great companions, but our eyes pay the price. Rest your eyes often by looking away from the screen and get up and walk around to give your eyes a break. Another great tip is to maintain adequate lighting that doesn’t reflect off the device.
Hands Off Your Eyes
We touch a lot of things that aren’t great for eye health. Your keys, phones, doorknobs and other objects are subject to germs and bacteria. Even if you wash your hands thoroughly, it’s a good idea to keep your hands away from your eyes. Rubbing them often leads to irritation and infection.
Weekly
Eye Protection for Every Situation
- For weekly gardening or other chores, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris.
- Consider wearing eye protection for the weekly tennis match or basketball duel. If you go swimming, be sure to wear goggles to protect your eyes from chlorine and other irritants.
Wear Sunglasses (Buy a Few Pairs)
- Weekends in the sun require sunglasses with UV light protection.
Annually
Get an Eye Exam
Annual visits to your eye doctor help you find early signs of glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. Keep your eye doctor updated on your overall health, including current medications. Frequent exams are essential if you wear contact lenses due to a high risk of irritation and infection.
Is LASIK an Option?
Ask your doctor if you are eligible for LASIK. Permanently correcting your vision is a great way to jumpstart your eye health and optimize your vision.