Digital eyestrain and poor eye health is on the rise, not surprising with the average Briton now spending seven hours plus in front of a screen each day! Keep your eyes in tip-top condition with our eight tips for healthy eyes …
1. Visit A Good Local Optometrist
Adults should visit at least every two years, if you have a close relative who has Glaucoma you should visit every year from the age of 40. Children should have their first eye test before starting school, this can drastically reduce the chances of developing an untreatable lazy eye in adulthood.
2. Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes
Rubbing your eyes often and vigorously can permanently weaken the cornea which can cause a condition know as keratoconus.
3. Eat The Rainbow
Enjoying a diet rich in brightly coloured fruit and vegetables can help reduce the chances of developing severe macular degeneration.
4. Prevent Computer Screen Discomfort
Simple changes can help reduce dry, uncomfortable eyes from computer screen use. Try lowering the position of your screen and close your eyes for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Preservative free artificial tears can also help some people.
5. Increase The Quality Of Your Tears
Increasing omega-3 oils, such as oily fish, and introducing flaxseed oil supplements in your diet can reduce the chance of dry eye and increase the quality of your tears.
6. Refresh After A Day In Front Of The Screen
Spending everyday in front of the screen can leave you suffering with blocked oil ducts in the eyelids (meibomian gland dysfunction), resulting in sore, tired, heavy, gritty eyes. Refresh your eyes by placing a hot compress over closed eyelids for 10 minutes, doing this three – four a week can really help refresh the eyes and provide instant relief.
7. Take Care When Removing Eye Make-up
Ingredients, such as petroleum jelly and mineral oil, found in some eye make-up removers have been known to clog pores which can cause discomfort, puffiness and irritation of the eye area, it may also cause infection.
8. Quit Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and has been linked to the development of cataracts. It causes harm to the tissue of the eye and doubles your chances of losing your sight, according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
