When it comes to caring for our bodies, many of us tend to neglect our eyes. To put it simply, this is a huge mistake.
After all, our eyes are our windows to the world. As such, failure to care for them properly could severely impair our well-being.
The question is: what does adult eye care entail? And even further: when is it time to see a Lexington eye doctor? We’ll answer both of those questions below.
Eye Care Tips
There are all sorts of things you can do to help maintain the health of your eyes. Some of the most effective methods are as follows.
Keep Your Sunglasses Handy
Sunglasses are more than just a fashion piece. They’re a vital tool in every human being’s daily arsenal . . . or at least they should be.
See, sunglasses don’t only keep the glare out of your eyes; they also prevent your eyes from suffering premature damage. By blocking UV rays, sunglasses offer a number of benefits, including but not limited to a reduced risk of cataracts and a reduced risk of cancerous growths.
So, when the sky is clear and the sun is beaming bright, make sure you have a pair of shades covering your eyes. You don’t need anything expensive, but make sure that they provide 100% UV ray protection.
Wash Your Hands Often
The primary key to caring for eyes is to keep them clean. Unfortunately, should you rub your eyes with your fingers, you can expose them to bad bacteria within a matter of seconds.
And while it’s ideal to never rub your fingers or hands against your eyes, you’re bound to slip up from time to time. So, knowing this, what can you do to keep exposure risk to a minimum? You can wash your hands on a frequent basis.
Just went to the bathroom? Wash your hands.
Just ate a meal? Wash your hands.
Coming in from outside? Wash your hands.
Note, though, that you don’t want to wash your hands too much, particularly if you’re using sanitizer. The overuse of soap and sanitizer can cause your skin to crack, allowing bacteria to seep into the cracks and cause infection. As such, you keep your number of hand-washing sessions to under 10 a day.
Eat Leafy Greens
Your diet has an effect on your eyes as well; while eating bad foods isn’t necessarily a detriment to your eye health, eating good ones can help to improve or maintain it. Leafy greens, in particular, can go a long way in assisting your eyes, helping protect them from UV rays.
Why are leafy greens beneficial? Thanks to their Vitamin C, lutein, beta carotene, and zeaxanthin content. Together, these substances work to reduce the risk of cataracts, glaucoma, and general visual impairment.
Drink Plenty of Water
As you’ve probably heard millions of times, it’s imperative that you drink plenty of water. This is true not only for the sake of your energy levels but for the sake of your eyes as well.
Staying hydrated is important for the eyes for a number of reasons. In addition to preventing eye dryness, it also reduces the risk of eye fatigue. As such, it helps you feel less exhausted throughout the day.
Wondering how much water you should be drinking? The recommended amount is eight 8-ounce cups every day. Note, though, that for larger individuals, more will likely be needed.
Practice Moderation With Screens
In the modern world, we’re almost perpetually looking at screens; TV screens; computer screens; phone screens; etc. And while these screens are undoubtedly beneficial, they come with some drawbacks as well. Primarily, they hurt the eyes, causing them to strain, and leading to exhaustion.
For this reason, you should practice moderation with your screen usage. The recommended practice is to use the 20-20-20 rule. This is a rule stating that you should stare 20 feet away for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of screen usage.
Using screens in this manner will give your eyes time to relax, helping to prevent exhaustion over time.
Signs You Should See an Eye Doctor
There are many different reasons to see an eye doctor. The key is to look out for specific signs. The most prominent of these signs are as follows.
“Spots” are Floating Through Your Eyes
Do you sometimes see little “spots” floating through your line of vision? If so, you could be suffering from an optic ailment of some kind.
While these floaters are often caused by a simple rubbing of the eyes, they can also be caused by cataracts and retinal detachment. If you’re seeing them on a fairly regular basis, a trip to the eye doctor is warranted.
You’re Prone to Dizziness
Dizziness can be caused by a number of factors, some of which are optical in nature. So, if you’re dizzy on a regular basis, you’re advised to see your local eye doctor.
You’re Particularly Sensitive to Light
Everyone is at least partially sensitive to light. After all, no one benefits from looking into the sun. But if you’re getting headaches just from catching a glimpse of a bright, summer day, something is amiss.
An eye doctor can help you get to the bottom of the problem. If necessary, he or she can then take action to correct it.
Your Eyes are Perpetually Dry
No one can escape eye dryness entirely. A cold winter day is likely to bring it out in most of us. But if your eyes are perpetually dry, there is likely some sort of underlying cause at play.
Whether it’s coming about as a result of a disease you have or a medication you’re taking or otherwise, you would be wise to see an eye doctor.
Adult Eye Care is an Absolute Necessity
Never underestimate the importance of adult eye care. Failing to care for your eyes could have a severe negative impact on your long-term well-being. Use the tips above to provide yourself with the highest quality of life possible.
Are you in need of an eye doctor in Lexington? If so, Kentucky Eye Institute has you covered.