May 18 2020

Healthy Vision Month

Posted by Scott  filed under Vision

Our eyes are always at work relaying information from the world around us as we go around our day to day lives, making them some of the most important parts of our body. But despite this, our eyes aren’t always our top concern. Many of us are sure to get regular checkups for the rest of our bodies, but we may forget the importance of regular eye exams. May was named Healthy Vision Month to bring awareness to this problem. This May, everyone should take time to learn more about what you can do to protect your eyes.  If you are still on stay-at-home guidelines, why not?

Protecting Your Eyes

1. Keep screens at a distance. Nowadays, screens are a part of everyday life. Many people use smartphones and watch television every day, and thousands of people spend all day at work staring at a computer screen… like right now.  When using a computer, you should keep the screen at arm’s length, and you should be sure to look away from the screen every once in a while to avoid strain on your eyes.
2. Wear sunglasses. Overexposure to UV rays can lead to many eye problems, such as cataracts and cancerous growths in the eye. If you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in the sun, be sure to get sunglasses that can properly block out UV rays.
3. Be sure to maintain a well-balanced, healthy diet, and be sure to eat plenty of dark, leafy vegetables.
4. Don’t smoke. Smoking can have negative effects on nearly every part of your body, including your eyes. People who smoke are at a great risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. If you smoke and you want help on how to quit, visit the American Lung Association here: https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/i-want-to-quit/
5. Get regular physical activity.
6. Wear safety goggles when necessary. Whenever you use power tools, do home repairs, use cleaners with harsh chemicals, or play contact sports, you should wear goggles to protect your eyes.
7. Be aware of your family’s history when it comes to eye problems. Certain eye conditions and diseases can run in families.
8. Be careful with contacts. Misuse of contacts can cause serious eye problems. If you wear contacts, be sure to only use saline solution when moistening them, take them out before naps, and give your eyes a break once a week by wearing glasses.
9. Watch out for changes in your vision. If you start noticing problems with your eyes, such as blurry vision or double vision, see your eye doctor immediately.
10. Get regular eye exams. The best person to help you care for your eyes is a professional eye doctor. Your eyes should be examined once a year by a professional.

References:

Pressner, Amanda. (2014). “10 Eye Health Tips to Protect Your Vision.” Retrieved from: https://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/eye-health

American Lung Association. (2019). “How To Quit Smoking.” Retrieved from: https://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/i-want-to-quit/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). “Keep an Eye on Your Vision Health.” Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/features/healthyvision/index.html

Heiting, Gary. (2017). “8 Ways to Protect Your Eyesight.” Retrieved from: https://www.allaboutvision.com/over60/ways-to-protect.htm

National Eye Institute. “About Healthy Vision Month.” Retrieved from: https://nei.nih.gov/hvm/about_hvm