Vision impairment is widespread. In Australia alone, more than 13 million people are suffering from chronic eye conditions, such as refractive errors, cataracts, macular degeneration, and blindness. If you want to maintain optimal eye health, it’s crucial to practise healthy eye care habits and visit an eye doctor regularly. For practical ways how to protect your vision, VisionFirst Surgery outlines the best actions you can take right now to maintain healthy eyes and prevent vision problems.
5 Do These to Protect Your Vision
How to protect your vision involves a combination of healthy lifestyle habits, wearing protective eyewear, and more. Here are the things you can do immediately to prevent your eyes from deteriorating:
1. Get your body moving
You might be wondering how exercising helps maintain a healthy vision. Based on studies, regular physical activity can help reduce the eye’s intraocular pressure, lowering your risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye diseases.
2. Eat an eye-healthy diet
Eye doctors and eye and laser surgeons always advise everyone to nourish their eyes with a diet rich in vitamins A, C, D, and E and foods abundant in omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, and zinc. Foods containing these nutrients help protect the eyes from oxidative damage and improve visual performance.
3. Wear sunnies and safety glasses
The sun’s UV rays can damage your eyes, so always wear your sunnies outdoors. Meanwhile, if you’re doing activities that pose a risk of eye injuries, use safety glasses to shield your eyes from hazards and debris.
4. Ensure good lighting
Whenever you’re reading, studying, or working, ensure there’s proper lighting. This helps prevent eye strain and headaches. The best light for your eyes is warm light, such as natural light, incandescent light, and LED light.
5. Limit screentime
Although it’s the age of smartphones and computers, remember not to stare at your screens for too long. VisionFirst Surgery suggests following the 20-20-20 rule. To do this, take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away.
Have Your Regular Eye Exams with VisionFirst Surgery
Even if you’re taking preventive measures on how to protect your vision, regular eye exams with an eye doctor are still essential. Some eye problems, like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and macular degeneration, don’t present symptoms in their early stages. Although these conditions can be treated with eye injections, surgeries, and laser treatments, your vision may not fully recover. To ensure your eyes remain healthy, schedule a regular eye exam with VisionFirst Surgery, one of the leading eye laser Melbourne services and general ophthalmology providers. Take the first step toward healthier eyes—book your appointment today.