Your vision is obviously very important, life would be very different without it and most people take their eyesight for granted. As we age, our eyesight can change and many people require reading glasses, or contact lenses and regarding general eye care, here are a few tips from a leading optician.
- Have an eye examination – This should be an annual thing; a comprehensive dilated eye exam that will determine the overall health of your eyes
- Regular exercise – You might be wondering what diet has to do with your eyesight; ask any doctor and they will tell you that your eyes rely on good overall health. If your blood-sugar levels are not right, this can affect your vision and being overweight can lead to diabetes. Vision loss is a very real risk for obese people, so make sure that you work out on a daily basis.
- Wear polarised sunglasses – Ideally, you should be wearing polarised shades with a UV rating of 400; search online for a leading Australian optometrist, where you can find quality shades at affordable prices.
- Avoid smoking – You may not be aware that smoking can lead to loss of vision, macular degeneration, cataracts and optic nerve damage. Aside from the risk to your eyesight, smoking tobacco is associated with many deadly forms of cancer; if you must have a nicotine fix, use a patch. Here is a great article that outlines the many benefits of walking, especially for the elderly.
- Contact lens care – Contact lenses must be stored correctly when not being worn; the web hosts a wealth of resources regarding contact lens care, while the optometrist can give you full care instructions.
- Eye protection – Whether at work or doing DIY around the house, you should always wear suitable eye protection when doing certain activities, as accidents can and do happen. Wear goggles when using power tools and swimming in chlorine water demands swimming goggles.
- Working with computers – If you sit in front of a digital screen all day, your eyes can easily be strained; we recommend taking a 5-minute break every 30 minutes – Look out of the window and focus on things far away, if only for a few minutes and this will ensure your eyes are not strained.
- Register with your local optometrist – Much like you register with a GP, you should find an established optometrist and have an annual eye exam. The health professional dilates your eyes, which enables them to check the back of the eyes to see if there are any issues.
Wearing some form of eye protection is always a good idea and once you get into the habit of wearing sunglasses when you go out, it soon becomes second nature. As you get older, your vision is more likely to be impacted and you might need glasses or contact lenses. The Australian government has a website dedicated to eye care, which we recommend you read.