Vision is one of the most beautiful things humans enjoy and yet, take for granted. Almost every night, you go to sleep expecting to wake up, maintaining your ability to see. Many people only expect to start developing any vision issues when they're old and frail. But regardless of how young you are and how good your current eyesight is, eye-related issues sneak up on you without warning. The best way to prevent that is to be intentional about your eye health. Thankfully, you can do a few things to protect your optical health. Here are 4 of them.
By Team Savant
Image: Joeyy Lee
Pay Attention To Even the Smallest Symptoms
Your eyes perform one of the most crucial functions in everyday living. And yet, the human eye is also one of the most delicate organs of the body, protected only by a thin layer cover known as the eyelids. Like almost every part of your body, your eyes can also experience some health issues. The last thing you want to do is take those issues for granted, no matter how minor they appear. Anytime you feel something off with your vision, it's important to seek immediate medical attention. For example, if you experience decreased vision, speaking to the best retinitis pigmentosa doctors can help. Also, it's important to go for regular eye screening, even if your eye health feels great and you have no issues with your vision.
Eat More Foods Enriched In Eye-Protecting Nutrients
Protecting your eye health can start with the food on your plate. Essential nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, lutein, and omega 3 fatty acids are considered ideal for protecting eye health and improving vision in general. Experts also recommend these nutrients for older people looking to ward off age-related eyesight problems like cataracts and macular degeneration. The nutrients mentioned above are usually found in foods like oysters, pork, citrus fruits and juices, beans, nuts, eggs, tuna, salmon, spinach, and other green, leafy veggies. So, be sure to include these foods in your diet regularly.
Keep Your Weight Under Control
Believe it or not, there is a strong connection between your weight and your eye health. For example, some studies have shown that obesity increases the risk of developing serious eye diseases like glaucoma, wet macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. While many people already know about the impact of obesity on human health, few people understand how it also impacts vision and eye health. For example, being obese can put you at higher risk of health issues like diabetes, but few understand how it leads to vision loss. Maintaining weight control through proper diet and exercising are effective ways to prevent some vision complications.
Take Regular Breaks From Screens
From smartphones to computers and TVs, screens have become a major part of daily living. But too much screen time can also lead to eye fatigue, irritated eyes, dry eyes, computer vision syndrome, and different types of vision-related issues. So, take regular breaks away from your screens if you work behind your computer all day. Apply the 20-20-20 rule, which means staring 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. It would help if you also blinked often during the day to avoid drying your eyes.