Caring for your eyes often goes overlooked. Taking proper care of your eyes can help you prevent vision problems down the line. If youβre in a place where you want to start making changes to help improve your overall eye health and vision, but just donβt know where to start, youβre in the right place.
London opticians R Woodfall have suggested these lifestyle changes that you can start doing today.
Wear Sunglasses With Photochromic Lenses
Investing in a quality pair of sunglasses for the summer can really do wonders to protect your eyes. Sunglasses with photochromic lenses block out 100% of all UVA and UVB rays that are known to damage the eyes. Wearing sunglasses more frequently can help protect your eyes from overexposure to the sun, and all those harmful rays. However, itβs been found that wearing sunglasses constantly can cause headaches due to eye strain, and take away the benefits of natural sunlight from the rest of the body. So whilst sunglasses are a brilliant protective tool, itβs best not to wear them 24/7.
Up Your Vitamin A Intake
Itβs no secret that carrots are great for your eyesight. But have you ever wondered why? Carrots contain a pigment called beta carotene that our bodies convert into vitamin A. Vitamin A has many benefits to the body, but itβs particularly useful when it comes to the eyes. This is because Vitamin A is essential to good night vision as it activates rhodopsin, which allows us to see in the dark. Without it we wouldnβt be able to see properly in dim lighting. A great way to incorporate more vitamin A into your diet is to eat foods such as carrots, eggs, and spinach, as these are all rich in this vitamin. They donβt say carrots give you night vision for no reason! Now you know the science behind the myth.
Is Exercise Good For The Eyes?
We all know plenty of ways that exercise is key to your health, but you may not know the reasons why itβs also highly beneficial for the eyes. Cardiovascular exercise like running is known to lower intraocular pressure, which refers to the fluid pressure of the eye. Glaucoma, which is a group of eye diseases that cause blindness, is caused by high intraocular pressure, so exercising frequently can lower your chances of developing this.
Cardiovascular exercise also increases blood flow to the optic nerve, which is generally good for the eyes.
Remember, exercising doesnβt have to be complicated. A small lifestyle change like making the time for a daily walk can get your heart pumping so you can reap all the benefits that cardio has to offer.
Regular Eye Exams
Arguably the most important lifestyle change is to visit your opticians every two years. If youβre older itβs recommended that you visit annually. Experts can assess your eye health and give any advice thatβs necessary to your health.
