Maintaining good eye health is one of the most important things we can do in our lives, and yet this can often be neglected. It’s surprisingly easy to keep your eyes healthy, and in this short guide, we’re going to look at some of the key ways in which you can do this.
Eye problems come in a variety of forms and can affect anyone. Common issues include cataracts and macular degeneration, which often require cataract surgery if they develop in severity. This is why you must carry out day to day activities to prevent this from happening.
So without further ado, here are some of the best ways to maintain healthy eyes.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is essential for a wide variety of health purposes. As time has progressed, we’ve learned more about why sleep is so important, and this goes for eye health too. With a lack of sleep, you can wake up with sore eyes. They may be bloodshot or puffy, and eye irritation can lead to further problems.
If you’re struggling to get enough sleep on a regular basis, there are remedies for the eye issues that this can cause. An effective way to relieve eye irritation caused by lack of sleep is to put a cold compress such as a wet face cloth over your eyes and lie back for 10 minutes or so.
Healthy Diet
Maintaining a healthy diet is similar to sleep in the fact that it’s beneficial for a huge number of reasons, with eye health being just one of the reasons. Plenty of fruits and vegetables such as kale, avocado, spinach, and carrots, contain a variety of vitamins and nutrients that can help protect against eye diseases such as macular degeneration.
Alongside including enough fruit and vegetables, foods such as fish are very beneficial for the eyes. This is because fish contains omega-3 fatty acids which help the structure of the cell membranes within the eyes.
Fish is particularly good when it comes to dry eye syndrome, and studies have suggested that including just one serving of fish in your diet a week can reduce the chance of age-related macular degeneration.
All of these nutrients can also be found in supplements, but the studies on this are not conclusive, so it’s recommended that you try to include a wide variety of vitamin-rich food sources in your diet throughout the week to ensure that your eyes receive all of the benefits they can get.
Stop Smoking And Limit Alcohol
Smoking increases the risk of eye diseases such as cataracts. In fact, some studies suggest that smokers have double the chance of developing this condition when compared to non-smokers. It also increases the risk of macular degeneration, and needless to say, smoking regularly could cause a variety of complications over time. It isn’t always easy to stop smoking, but with the guidance of a health professional, it can become much less stressful.
Limiting alcohol is also important when it comes to preventing eye issues. This is because it can impair liver function, and the liver provides some of the essential antioxidants that maintain eye health. Alcohol consumption needs to be managed to a sensible level, but can still be enjoyed as long as you are careful.
Regular Exercise
Exercising regularly can benefit the eyes in a number of different ways. This is because the eyes, much like other organs, need oxygen to maintain optimal functioning power. Aerobic exercise is a great way to get oxygen flowing around the body and provide your eyes with what they need. Regular aerobic exercise benefits the optic nerve and lowers the pressure within the eye.
Conditions such as diabetes can lead to complications with eyes due to high blood sugar levels. Due to this, exercise is one of the most important ways in which people with diabetes can tackle eye issues as it helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
The recommended amount of daily exercise you should carry out is 30 minutes. This can be anything from running to cycling to walking. If you include 30 minutes of exercise in your daily routine, your eyes will be better equipped to fight off any issues you may face.
Wear Sunglasses
Wearing sunglasses can help protect your eyes against ultraviolet light rays, which can be harmful in excessive amounts. Many pairs of sunglasses protect against UVB, and this reduces the chance of getting a whole host of nasty eye conditions.
Overall, if you combine the advice listed in the sections above, you stand a much better chance of maintaining healthy eyes and enjoying your day-to-day life without impaired vision. If you’re worried about your eyes, make sure you contact a health professional like London Cataract Centre and get regular eye check-ups to ensure you’re always prepared.
