Eye Health Recommendations
When we’re young, we often take our eyesight for granted and may unknowingly put our eye health at risk by doing things we shouldn’t. Protecting your vision is a matter of following a few simple eye health recommendations.
Get Enough Sleep
During sleep, the eyes are able to cleanse themselves of irritants such as dust, allergens or smoke that may have accumulated during the day. Also, our eyes enjoy continuous lubrication as we sleep.
While it’s important that we protect our eyes from over-exposure to UV light, our eyes also need some exposure to natural light every day to help maintain normal sleep-wake cycles.
Exercise
Eyes need good blood circulation and oxygen intake. Both are stimulated by regular exercise, which also helps to keep weight within the normal range to reduce the risk of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.
Always wear protective eyewear when participating in sports and other recreational activities.
Things to Avoid
Indoor tanning – Studies have shown that exposure to the UV light from tanning beds can cause eye damage and skin cancer.
Eyelash extensions – The adhesives used can cause swelling, infection and permanent loss of your eyelashes.
Raw meat for a black eye – The bacteria from raw meat can cause infection. Use a bag of frozen vegetables or ice, instead.
Smoking – Smoking as a young adult can increase your risk for cataracts and cardiovascular diseases that indirectly affect your eyes’ health. In people with other eye diseases as well, smoking increases the risk of severe vision loss.
STDs – Sexually transmitted diseases can affect you eye health. The five leading STDs that can harm your eyes are:
- Herpes type 1 or 2
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- HIV/AIDS
Vision Check
Eye disease can appear at any time. While many health conditions can affect our eyesight, having a family member with eye disease can also make you more prone to having the same condition. Very often, these conditions go unnoticed until it is too late.
A baseline eye exam is recommended at age 40 because this is when the signs of changes in vision and eye disease may start to happen. After that, you should have your eyes checked as often as your eye doctor suggests.
