Taking Charge of Your Eye Health at Home

When you think of routine eye care, you probably think of going to the eye doctor. That is definitely a part of caring for your eyes, but routine eye care should start at home. Follow some tips for caring for your eyes at home and then keep regular appointments with your Glendale eye doctor. When you do both things, your eyes will stay healthy for the long term.

Eat the Right Foods

Your mom probably told you to eat fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins so you could stay healthy. Eating the right foods won’t just keep you at a good weight and keep your blood pressure down. Eating right will also help your eyes. Your eyes need nutrients, vitamins, and healthy fatty acids to stay sharp. Start with a diet full of leafy green vegetables such as kale. Add in some oily fish, non-meat protein, and citrus fruits. Eat these foods on a daily basis so your eyes will stay sharp even as you age.

Put Some Shades On

Sunglasses don’t just make you look cool. They also keep your eyes healthy. Put your shades on so harmful UV rays won’t hurt your eyes. Your shades should block at least 99 percent of UV rays. Consider going the extra mile with wraparound sunglasses so all of those dangerous rays will stay out. Your eyes will thank you for it.

Stop Straining Your Eyes

If you’re like most people, you spend a lot of time on the computer or on your phone. That can actually lead to eye strain. Look away from time to time so you don’t strain your eyes and end up with blurred vision. Looking away from time to time will also help you avoid getting dry eyes. As a general rule, you need to rest your eyes every 20 minutes. When 20 minutes pass, look away for 20 seconds. During that time, focus on something that is 20 feet away. This will help your eyes rest and relax. Then, you can resume your activity on your phone or computer.

Snuff out Your Cigarettes

Cigarettes have a bad reputation, and for a good reason. They are bad for your overall health, including your eyes. Smokers have an increased risk of developing cataracts. Smoking can also damage your optic nerve, so snuff out your last cigarette and don’t pick the habit up again. You will feel better immediately, and your eyes will be healthier as well.

Protect Your Eyes

It is a lot easier to damage your eyes than you might think. If debris flies into your eyes, you could end up with a serious problem. Wear safety eyewear when playing contact sports or doing a dangerous job. For instance, if you are mowing the lawn, put on some safety eyewear. Then, if rocks or other debris get in the air, they won’t get in your eyes.

Your eyes are important, so you need to protect them at all times. Follow these tips and keep your regularly scheduled appointments with your Scottsdale, Arizona, eye doctor. Then, your eyes will stay in great shape from one year to the next.