Seeing is so paramount in our lives that it requires about half the brain to get involved, so much so, that out of all the muscles in our bodies, the muscles that control our eyes are the most active. Which is why eye health is essential to maintain your sight for the length of your entire life!
Sight itself is such a powerful sense. It collects the highest amount of information compared to the rest of the senses. Undoubtedly one of the most crucial features in our body, we spend an insignificant amount of time caring for it. So here are some ways you can start looking after those gorgeous browns.
Eye Health Tip #1: Eat Well
Source: Tookapic
There’s no running away from this. Good eye health starts with the food on your plate because your eyes need nutrients to heal and repair themselves. Age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts can be warded off with nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E. So fill your plate with:
- Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, and collards)
- Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
- Eggs, nuts, beans, and other non-meat protein sources
- Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices
- Oysters and pork
A well-balanced diet also lowers your odds of developing type 2 diabetes, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults.
A great diet is amazing not just for your eyes but for your entire body as well! Here are some amazing types of breakfast ideas to pump those essential nutrients into your body right at the start of the day!
Eye Health Tip #2: Quit Smoking
Source: Basil MK
If you smoke, your chances of getting cataracts, damage to your optic nerve, and macular degeneration significantly increases. So, make your eyes another reason for you call it quits. If you’ve tried to kick the habit only to start again, keep at it. The more times you try to quit, the higher your chances are of succeeding.
Eye Health Tip #3: Wear Sunglasses
Source: Stokpic
Too much exposure to the sun’s UV rays will increase your risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. Not to worry, you can easily prevent it. With sunglasses! The right pair of shades which blocks 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays will delay the development of cataracts, since direct sunlight hastens their formation. If you want to protect the delicate skin around your eyelids to prevent wrinkles and skin cancer, sunglasses help.
Eye Health Tip #4: Look Away From the Computer Screen
Source: Splitshire
In this day and age, we can’t help but be glued to our screens. It can be work, or browsing through interesting content, we all spend a substantial amount of time on our gadgets. And there are without a doubt, some side effects. Eyestrain, blurry vision, dry eyes and headaches to name a few. We’ve all been there, done that. To reduce the strain we put on our eyes, blink more when you’re using a screen. And stop work every 20 minutes to look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Our tech is here to stay but not at the expense of our vision. So take care of those windows to your soul before it’s too late!
Eye Health Tip #5: Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly
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We cannot stress the importance of this. Many eye diseases, like glaucoma, are non-symptomatic and if spotted early on, is way easier to treat. This is especially the case for those 40 years and above. That’s when age related eye diseases start to kick in and if identified early would save your precious vision. One important thing to note about eye diseases is that it is closely linked to genetics. So if someone in your family has an eye disease, get regular check-ups to have early prevention.
Eye Health Tip #6: Contact lens care
Source: Marcoeyes
If you wear contact lenses, hygiene is of the utmost importance! Follow strictly your doctor’s instructions because you do not want to know what it’s like to have an eye infection. Don’t sleep in contacts that are not approved for overnight wear, use the correct cleaning solutions, and take care that all the products you use are not expired. All this for the sake of prevent corneal ulcers, severe pain and even vision loss.
Learn to care for your precious vision.
Source: Stephen Niemeier
Your eyes are priceless. Not just because they constantly feed you information to keep you safe, but they are also your connection to the outside world. They convey our genuine emotions to help us bond with others. So take care of your valuable vision and it will take care of you!
So now that you’re thoroughly educated on eye health, start taking action! A little effort a day goes a long way. Try out the tips above and let me know how it goes. Remember your taking care of your eyes now is an investment to your eye health tomorrow! And it’s never too late OR early to start! You’re very welcome to say hi, give advice or ask questions in the comments below just so that I know that my dispensing of knowledge had some sort of impact! 😀 Thank you for reading and welcome to your journey of getting healthy in KL! Remember, you’re not alone!
