Vision impairment and other problems with your eyes are some of the most widely common health issues we deal with in general. 1.3 billion people around the world are estimated to live with some vision impairment. But did you know that there’s a lot we can do to prevent or at least combat the severity of, vision impairment? Here, we’re going to look at the ways you can protect and care for your eyes to keep them in better condition for longer. One such way being, using contact lenses like Acuvue.

Watch (and wash) your hands

Rubbing, scratching, and touching your eyes with your hands directly is rarely a very good idea. As we should all know, our hands are harbours for bacteria, grime, dirt, and sweat, all of which can potentially cause problems for our eyes. You can scratch the lens or the cornea of the eye. However, for some people, especially those suffering from allergies, it can be hard to resist. Learning to wash your hands as best as possible, as shown by Dettol, can reduce your chances of causing any problems by rubbing your eyes. The best way to stop rubbing your eyes is to have other ways of dealing with irritants. Over-the-counter saline or eye drops can flush it out for you.

Beware the sun

If you’re already aware of the sun’s impact on the skin and the risks of skin cancer, then you should already be wary about exposing yourself directly to the sun. However, the sun can also pose a risk to your eyes. The UV radiation that the sun produces does damage to the eyes that build up over time and can have permanent effects, such as speeding up the rate of age-related macular degeneration. Sunglasses are, of course, one well-known solution and Tripsavvy shows a host of great options, including sunglasses that are better for more sensitive eyes. Similarly, wearing hats or other head garments that stop the sun from peeking over the rims of those sunglasses are recommended, as well.

Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay

Feed them well

Every part of your body is, in some part, helped or hindered by the food that we eat. Maintaining a healthy diet is amongst the most important healthy daily lifestyle habits to adopt. The nutrients you should be looking to include in your meals are zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein and omega-3 fatty acids. To get your fill, look for foods like leafy greens (such as spinach), oily fish (like salmon and mackerel), eggs and nuts, citrus fruits, and oysters and pork. It’s also worth reminding you of the danger that type-2 diabetes plays as a common cause of blindness amongst adults. Keeping in control of your weight and ensuring you don’t eat too much sugar can control your risk of developing that particular chronic disease.

Invest in the right eye care

Even if you’re already wearing glasses or contact lenses, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t any further risk to your eyes. Making sure that you stay current with your prescription, keeping up with follow-up exams when necessary is crucial. With contacts, you should be especially careful to choose those that best fit and take care of your eyes. For instance, there are brands like Bausch + Lomb Contact Lenses that have developed products that are designed to be breathable and help maintain the moisture of your eye naturally. Getting dry eyes due to wearing contacts for too long is an issue, and lead to scratches that further damage your eyesight, so be mindful of what eyewear you choose.

Quit smoking

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Smoking is one of the worst lifestyle habits out there, without a doubt. As such, it affects a wide range of parts of the body in different ways. Smoking affects your eyes, too; they’re no exception. This is in part due to how it restricts blood flow over time, making it harder for your oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to reach important parts of the body. As such, if you smoke, you’re more likely to suffer from early age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, optic nerve damage, and more. There are plenty of ways to cut down on smoking, from using patches or electronic cigarettes to practice mindfulness meditation to learn to resist the habit. It’s never too late to start.

The danger of eyestrain

The blue light that most of us consistently expose our eyes to, through using computers, digital televisions, and mobile devices, can harm your eyes. You’ve likely already experienced eyestrain in your life before, along with the blurry vision, dryness, and headaches that it can cause. It’s important to take breaks away from screens. Ten to fifteen minutes every hour is what’s recommended. Otherwise, you can reduce the impact of eyestrain by ensuring that you sit at a distance from the screen and ensure that the room or desk is backlit so that the screen is not the only source of light that you’re looking at. There are also glasses and covers for screens that offer blue light filtering to reduce the strain.

Keep up with your exams

Image by Gary Cassel from Pixabay

Most importantly of all, the best way to act on changes to your eyesight and protect them from further damage is to be aware of any changes that do happen. Eyesight changes tend to happen slowly over a long period of time, so it can be difficult to recognise when you’re already being affected by them. The best way to catch them when you might otherwise be unaware of is to maintain a consistent routine of getting your eyes checked. It’s recommended by most medical eyesight professionals that you have an eye exam every one or two years. If you get an eye test and you’re told you don’t need any more, then you may be fine for exams until you turn 40.

As common as vision impairment and other eye problems are, they’re amongst the most overlooked health issues around. The tips above should keep you aware of the risks to your eyes and what you can do to ensure you can see clearly for years to come.