Authored by: OCC LASIK
Your eyes are a very important organ for your functioning since most of your daily activities are heavily dependent on vision. As a result, maintaining healthy eyes is extremely important to keeping you happy and living at your best. Luckily there are a number of ways to work towards optimal ocular health. Below are three simple practices you can implement into your daily routine to make sure you are looking and seeing your best.
Practice Proper Computer Use
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) refers to a number of eye problems that are associated with excessive and improper computer use and is becoming increasingly common among the population; approximately 50-90% of people that are employed at a job that requires heavy computer use suffer from a symptom related to these conditions. In order to avoid these symptoms you can change small details of your daily activity. Firstly, take a break from focusing on the computer screen every 20 minutes. Take a minute or two to close your eyes and relax them. Next, focus your eyes on something in the distance for a bit. This activity will help keep the muscles in your eye working well and your eye lens flexible. Moreover, eye strain can be reduced by setting up your computer slightly below eye level and around 50 centimeters away. Studies have shown that placing your computer at a lower height is less tough on the eyes and increases blinking, which helps prevent dry or irritated eyes. Lastly, make sure that your work area is well lit to minimize glare and maximize visibility. As computer-related vision problems increase, it is of utmost important that you do your best to set up a healthy work environment.
Wear Outdoor Eye Protection
While most people associate ultraviolet radiation with skin conditions, UV rays also have negative impacts on the eyes. Since the eyes are specifically designed to deal with light, they are especially susceptible to the negative impacts of these rays. There are a number of conditions that can be the product of not protecting your eyes: photokeratitis, corneal sunburns that result in blistering; increased risk for cataracts, a clouding of the cornea associated with aging; and even skin cancer of the eye lid. Avoid these conditions by buying and wearing a pair of quality sunglasses. Find a pair that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays and that are from a trusted source; many inexpensive sunglasses will claim to protect from UV rays but often do not block out as much as you’d expect. Wear sunglasses on every sunny day, even in the winter, to minimize any health risks.
Eat Healthy
Your diet heavily influences the health of your organs and the eyes are no exception. The eyes are dependent on many specific nutrients to maintain function. Firstly, your eyes need Vitamin C because it is a powerful antioxidant that helps the production of collagen found in the cornea of the eye, thus reducing the risk of cataracts as you age. It also prevents vision loss from macular degeneration, which is caused by retinal damage associated with aging. Foods like bell peppers and brussel sprouts contain vitamin C and a cup a day is enough to fulfil your daily intake requirement. Additionally, the eyes require Beta-Carotene, a type of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is the reason carrots and other orange foods have their colour; it also helps get rid of toxins and fights bacteria around the eye. The first symptom of deficiency of this condition is night blindness, but introducing sweet potatoes or carrots into your diet can prevent this degeneration.
To conclude, start practicing safer computer use, wearing outdoor eye protection, and eating properly to make sure your eyes are in their best shape. At OCC LASIK we provide quality eye treatment to all of our patients, correcting vision and providing clients with new daily freedoms. Contact us to find out about how our ophthalmologists can help you look and see your best.