We take vision seriously, especially during Healthy Vision Month! When it comes to our health, we take pretty good care of ourselves. If we have an illness we see the doctor, or if we hurt ourselves we’ll see a specialist. But what about our eyes? How do we take care of them? While our eyes aren’t always the first thing that comes to mind in terms of “health and wellness”, they should be – they’re just as important as those regular doctor visits.
Our eyes help us with so much in our daily lives, it’s time we returned the favor and did something for them. Not sure where to start? Here are some safe and healthy tips to get you through Healthy Vision Month – and the rest of the year!
- Get an eye exam: Maintaining your vision is critical. Are you wearing corrective glasses? Do you need to be? Prescription lenses can be the difference between added eyestrain, headaches, tired eyes, double vision or blurry vision…and a relaxing view.
- Check out dilation options: Take your eye examination up a notch. Getting a dilated eye exam is the only way to catch eye diseases early. Unfortunately, with many eye diseases, there are no warning signs. Talk to your eye care professional about how often you should have one. There are also specific tests that can be run to test eye health without requiring dilation.
- Get a functional vision evaluation: A functional vision exam generally takes two to three hours and tests skills such as fixation, tracking, accommodation and eye teaming, to name a few. The purpose of this examination is to evaluate how vision affects every day activities, work, school, driving, sports, behavior, hobbies and to address any specific needs.
- Live a healthy lifestyle: Eating healthy foods, maintaining a healthy weight, managing chronic conditions and not smoking can lower your risk of developing eye disease. Especially while it’s beautiful outside, don’t miss any opportunity to go outside and get some exercise!
- Live by the “20-20-20 Rule”: One of the best ways to prevent eye-strain is to live by the “20-20-20 Rule”. The basic principle behind the rule states that every 20 minutes you should look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Every 20 minutes you need to give your eyes a rest from the computer. When you look at something 20 feet way, try to stand up and move around. If you can’t do it every 20 minutes, try to do it at least once every hour. If possible, lean back and close your eyes for a few moments to relax your eyes.
- Use protective eyewear: Got a game of rugby coming up? Keep your eyes clear! Always protect your eyes when playing sports or on a hazardous job site to prevent eye injuries from happening. This includes wearing safety glasses, goggles, safety shields and eye guards that are made of polycarbonate.
- Wear sunglasses: Are you going to be in the sun all day long? You’re going to need some sunglasses. When purchasing sunglasses, look for glasses that block out 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation, so you can keep your vision sharp and eyes healthy.
Taking these steps can help prevent vision loss, blindness and many eye diseases and conditions from occurring. Interested in learning more tips and tricks to keep your eyes healthy all year long? Contact us today at 618-288-1489 to discuss treatments and therapies best suited for your family, or visit us online at https://www.visionforlifeworks.com or you can find us on Facebook!