Prevention is better than a cure. We have all heard this before, and it is true when it comes to your eyes. Seeing well is not just about having the right glasses; it is also essential to take care of your eyes and keep them healthy. Here are our top tips!
1. Regular eye examination. We generally recommend a comprehensive eye test at least once every two years. However, your optometrist in Canberra will advise you if you require more frequent reviews. The earlier any problems are detected and treatment started, the better the outcome. Our primary goal is to treat the disease before it affects your vision.
2. Adopt a healthy ‘visual hygiene regime’. Following the 20/20/20 rule helps to reduce any eye strain. This is, every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away (or 6 meters) for 20 seconds (and take 20 blinks). This helps relax our focus and eye strain. Regular blinking can also help relieve dry eyes. Additionally, ensure that you are holding your reading material, such as your phone or book, at least a forearm’s length away from your eyes. Any closer than this, your eyes must work harder to focus, which can lead to increased symptoms of eye strain.
3. Spending time outside with sunglasses is very important. Studies have shown that spending time outside (and looking in the distance) for children is particularly important in trying to reduce myopia (short-sightedness) progression. Ensuring you wear sunglasses reduces the harmful UV rays, which are known to contribute to pterygium, macular degeneration, cataracts, and other conditions.
4. Adopting an overall healthy lifestyle with a diet rich in Omega-3s and green leafy vegetables is essential for overall eye health, including reducing the progression of macular degeneration. Additionally, staying physically active improves your overall health, which in turn reduces the chances of diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy. Of course, it is also essential to avoid smoking as this increases your risk and severity of eye diseases.
5. Wear safety glasses when engaging in any at-risk activities, such as gardening (including mowing the lawn), welding, or playing squash. For children, even playing with the popular Nerf gun toy can lead to eye injuries, so it is equally essential for them to wear protective eyewear.
6. Adopting good contact lens hygiene if you wear contact lenses. Ensuring you only wear your contact lenses for the intended time, i.e., discarding your monthly contact lenses after 1 month of opening the blister pack, for example, is essential in reducing the chance of any adverse reactions. Along with this, avoiding sleeping in the lenses and ensuring you clean them correctly is equally important.
The Bottom Line
These simple steps will help you maintain your eyes’ health and protect your vision for years to come. Your optometrist in Canberra can advise you on how to protect your eyes and keep your vision tailored to your specific situation and environment. If you have never had an eye test and would like to learn more about your vision and your health, book an appointment with your optometrist in Canberra today by following our online booking link.