In the digital age, there are metaphorical mountains of articles on health and nutrition out there. From reputable organizations, to individual medical professionals and armchair diagnostician, it seems that everyone has an opinion on what you should (or shouldn’t) eat, and how active you should be to be healthy. This plethora of info can be very positive, but when we paused to think about it, we had one simple question: why aren’t more people talking about our eyes?
Like all parts of the body, the eyes require specific care for optimal performance. From diet and exercise, to protection and rest, in today’s blog post, we are going to break down some key points on eye health.
Helping your whole body helps the eyes
The National Eye Institute reveals that diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can contribute to eye health and vision problems. To optimize your overall wellness, we recommend talking with your doctor about a plan to sync up the two most important parts of staying healthy: diet and exercise. Staying physically active is proven to reduce the likelihood and severity of the diseases above (plus many more). Keeping these problems at bay will in turn reduce the likelihood they start to negatively impact the eyes. Eating healthy foods like leafy greens (kale, spinach), and fish high in Omega-3s (salmon, halibut, tuna), provide good nutrients for your eyes too. For a more thorough list of nutrients that can contribute to eye health, and the foods they are found in, check out this list from Harvard Medical School.
Protect your eye assets
There are several ways you can protect your eyes at any age. The Cleveland Clinic recommends that in addition to getting regular eye examinations, you do everything possible to protect your eyes from outside influences like injury-causing debris, and of course, the sun. High quality sunglasses like SunHeists offer the best levels of protection from UV or ultraviolet light radiation. It not only comes from the sun, but also tanning beds, and even black lights--and exposure is proven to increase risk for several types of eye disease. All of our lenses offer UV400 protection: which offers 99%-100% protection from these harmful rays. Furthermore, if you are looking for additional coverage, our Polarized styles reduce glare which can lead to eye strain and fatigue.
Wearing proper corrective lenses
Not wearing prescription lenses or contacts will not lead to eye disease, but it may cause discomfort, strain, and headaches. Furthermore if your eyesight is bad enough uncorrected, it could lead to injury from lack of safe vision. Regular eye checkups will ensure that you have the proper prescription to keep everything focused and clear. If you are active outside, and looking for prescription sunglasses that keep up with your pace, six of our nine styles are prescription ready! This includes: Alder, Aspen, Cottonwood, Hemlock, Juniper and Willow. (Birch, Sequoia, and Cypress are not eligible for prescription at this time)
Give them a rest
In addition to protecting your eyes, it is important to give them a break every once in a while. Many sources we reviewed, like the Mayo Clinic, recommend a minimum 20 second break for every 20 minutes of screen time. By lifting your eyes away from a computer, television, or other screen, you are giving them an opportunity to relax. You also want to be aware of the lighting not only around you, but of the device you are looking at as well. Adjust the ambient lighting so you can read text on paper clearly without having to strain your eyes. You can also adjust the brightness and contrast of the screen you are working on to a level where you are comfortable. Many eye strain symptoms are preventable at home, but if you have a more serious case, you should consult your doctor.
Your eyes during Covid-19
The last 11-12 months have been quite challenging and confusing in many ways--including knowing how to take care of ourselves. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has a great resource page to answer all of your questions about eye treatment and care during the pandemic. It covers everything from scheduling eye appointments, to current medical studies, and even how to wear a face mask without fogging up your glasses. If you have questions, make sure you use reliable sources of information like this one.
In closing, protecting our eyes should be top of mind, but frequently takes the backseat to other health items. We hope that in putting this together, we’ve helped remind you of how important your eyes truly are. As this post is not medical advice, we of course recommend reaching out to your primary doctor, optometrist, or ophthalmologist if you have more specific eye health questions. Other than that, thanks for reading and here’s to many years of healthy vision ahead!
