5 Simple Eye Care Tips to Improve the Health of Your Eyes

When most people think about bodily health, they tend to think about things like their cholesterol or their overall level of physical fitness. And at the other end of the spectrum are the eyes. Ironically, the eyes are one of the most frequently used and overworked organs in the human body, but few people take the time to care for them properly - at least not until something’s wrong. In a worst case scenario, people don’t bother to get their eyes checked until symptoms of possible eye diseases surface, which usually means the damage has already been done.

It’s truly a shame that this is the environment we live in, because simple steps can go a long way towards preventing pain and irreversible damage over the long-term. With that said, here are five simple steps you can take give your hardworking eyes the TLC they need in order to stay in tip-top shape:

Rest

Sufficient sleep and ample breaks from staring at your computer screen can do wonders in terms of making your eyes stronger. It’s recommended that you try to get at least 8 hours of sleep to ensure your eyes are well rested and repaired by the body. Also, it is wise to adopt the 20-20-20 rule if you have a job that requires you to sit in front of a computer every day: for every twenty minutes of staring into a computer screen, take a twenty second break and look at an object about twenty feet away from you.

Protective Gear

Whenever we hit the beaches or it happens to be an extremely sunny day, our skin requires SPF to prevent the sun from burning and damaging our epidermis –and the same kind of preventative care is needed for our eyes. You should never stare directly into the sun (or any very bright light source for that matter) and wearing UV protective glasses can go a long way towards keeping macular degeneration at bay.

What You Eat is What You See

Remember when you were a kid and you were told to eat your vegetables? If you have kids of your own, you’re probably saying the same thing because you want them to be healthy as possible. Foodstuffs that are high in Vitamin A like squash, dark leafy greens, carrots, and sweet potatoes give your eyes the nutrients it needs. This food group also boosts your immune system - keeping you more protected from eye infections.

Do NOT Rub Your Eyes

Ever had that desire to rub tired or itchy eyes? Of course you have - we’ve all experienced that urge at one time or another. Unfortunately, this is a counterproductive activity that will likely irritate your eyes further.You shouldn’t rub your eyes because this activity can cause your lids to sag and can damage capillaries. If you must touch your eyes, make sure they are clean and if something seems to be stuck in your eye, place it under cold, running water

Regular Check Ups

It’s always a good idea to see your eye doctor regularly and report any uneasiness or symptom, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Having your optometrist examine your eyes ensures early detection of diseases, most of which can be treated if they are caught in their early stages.

Sounds simple enough, right? If done correctly, this simple, eye-loving regimen can improve eyesight, prevent eye-problems and slow down the natural aging of your eyes, so that you can see the world in a better light!