Wide-brimmed hats for eye health

Most people take their eyesight for granted not realizing how drastically different their lives would be if they didn’t have it. Sure, when a problem with an eye arises we eventually tend to it, but rarely do we seek to prevent the problem in the first place. Don’t be blind to eye health. Here are ten tips worthy of a look!

#1. See your eye care professional once a year.

Do you even have an eye care professional? If not, get one and have a comprehensive eye exam. Just because you are not in pain doesn’t mean that your eyes are fine and healthy. Many eye diseases have no warning signs. And when you do have a bothersome eye, you wouldn’t know if it were a harmless irritation that would pass in a few days or a serious condition that needs immediate attention. Only your eye care professional can determine the health of your eyes and if you are seeing your best.

#2. Know the eye history of family.

Find out about the eye history of your parents, siblings, and even relatives. Many eye conditions are hereditary so it is important to know if any of your blood relations have been diagnosed with an eye disease.

#3. Know what your eyes look like.

Take a close look at your eyes. Be aware of what they look like and how they feel. Having a good familiarity with what your eyes look like would be useful to know when your eyes change in appearance and feeling.

#4. Be on the lookout for Pink Eye, Pinguecula, and Pterygium.

Pink Eye, also called Conjunctivitis, is redness and swelling of the mucous membrane (conjunctiva) that lines the eyelid and surface of the eye. Pinguecula is a raised yellowish lesion on the white of your eye. Pterygium is a wedge-shaped fibrous growth of tissue. If these conditions occur and persist, you must see your eye care professional. The earlier the better, don’t wait until such time as surgery may be required.

#5. Eat right, protect sight.

You have heard that eating carrots is good for your eyes. It is more than that. Research has shown that a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish contributes to better eye health. Eating better will not only help you look better and feel better, but to see better.

#6. Don’t be overweight.

Do you need any more reasons to maintain a healthy weight? If yes, then you can add eye health to the list. Being overweight increases your risk of developing diabetes and other conditions which can lead to vision loss. If you are unable to maintain a healthy weight on your own, talk to your doctor. Don’t put your health and eye sight at risk.

#7. Protect your eyes with eye-wear.

If your work or hobbies put your eyes at risk, wear protective eye-wear. Protective eye-wear includes safety glasses, goggles, shields, and eye guards designed to provide the best protection for a given activity. When outside, make it a habit to always wear sunglasses that block both the UV-A and UV-B ultraviolet rays of the sun. Direct exposure to these harmful rays of the sun is a leading causes of dryness of the eyes which can lead to many eye conditions. Seek to protect your eyes from the sun, wind, dust, dirt, and allergens with quality, comfortable, and functional eye-wear.

#8. Protect your eyes with head-wear.

There are many reasons to always wear a hat when you are outside. Avoiding skin cancer is a leading reason to wear a broad-rimmed hat. A hat can also keep the sun out of your eyes enabling you to play better sports and perform outdoor activities better. And for many people, a hat can keep the glare of the sun out of your eyes and prevent a headache or drowsiness while driving. A good hat is a friend of your eyes.

#9. Give your eyes a rest.

If you spend a lot of time focusing your eyes on one thing such as a book, computer screen, or television, you might not be blinking enough. Such activities can fatigue your eyes. Take a break from time to time to rest your eyes. Try the 20-20-20 rule which is for every 20 minutes of focused use of your eyes, look away at least 20 feet in front of you, and for 20 seconds or more. This will reduce eye strain and help your eyes to recover. If needed, use eye-drops to replenish the moisture in your eyes. This will keep them feeling good and at less risk of developing an eye condition related to excessive dryness.

#10. Practice eye safety.

Just as employers are required by law to provide a safe work environment for their workers, you should consider yourself required by your own healthy-living law to provide a safe living environment for your eyes. Your eyes need you. No one else can or will take care of them. Make it a point and a commitment to practice eye safety.

Don’t take your eyesight for granted. Your eyes are worth protection. See your eye care professional annually. Wear protective eye-wear as needed and sunglasses when outside. Whether working or enjoying the outdoors, always wear a hat that keeps the sun out of your eyes.