It took me WAY too long to realise I needed glasses. In fact, I only realised after the horrified reaction of my mate when I was driving (!) and couldn’t read a road sign which APPARENTLY was close and clear. Which got me thinking that eye health is 100% an aspect that I completely neglected, even still TBH.
If you want to be more responsible than me, here’s what The National Eye Insitute reckons you should be doing.
Get Regular Check-Ups
The general consensus is to get a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years. That can change a little depending on your age, your current eye situation and any risk factors, but your Optometrist will be able to let you know if you need to visit more often once you go in for an exam.
Give Your Poor Eyes A Break
According to my Optometrist, we’re basically a generation of people who will be short-sighted kinda early, thanks to a lot of our jobs involving spending a loooong time in front of the computer. She also reckons we’re most at risk for causing this damage in our early-20s. So as someone who didn’t, please take it seriously when the experts recommend you look out into the distance for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
Another Reason Not To Smoke
I seriously hope you’ve worked this out by now – smoking is bloody terrible for you. Don’t do it. If you needed another reason, consider the fact that it’s been linked to an increased risk of a range of eye issues that can lead to blindness, including age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage.
Eat Right And Stay Fit
Yep, what you eat and your fitness has an impact on your eye health too. Lots of fruit and veg in your diet is key for healthy peepers, especially dark leafy greens. Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial too. As for fitness, being overweight increase your risk of developing conditions that can lead to a loss of vision, like diabetic eye disease or glaucoma.
Sunnies Aren’t Just Accessories
I feel like we’re all pretty good with wearing sunnies now, because they’re so cool and who wouldn’t want to complete their outfit? But also they’re super important for protecting your eyes from ultraviolet rays, so you should be looking for ones that block 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
