Ten Top Tips for Eye Health

Eye care isn’t always something we think of in our everyday routine and most of us take our sight for granted until there’s an issue where we frantically book in a last minute appointment at the opticians praying that it’s nothing serious.

At Ferrier & MacKinnon we believe eye care can be integrated into your everyday life without the hassle of changing your whole routine. Follow our 10 Top Tips, and you will be well on your way to better eye health.

1. Get Regular Eye Examinations

One of the key difference of our patients with exceptional eye health is their regular attendance of eye examinations. Instead of waiting for the dreaded, “your eye examination is due” email (and then ignoring it!), proactively book your eye examination, your optician will be able to advise you on how what regularity they recommend based on your individual circumstances. And if you notice any change to your eye colour/sight/condition, then book an appointment immediately. You don’t know what you could be saving!

2. Stop Smoking

Or better yet, don’t start! Smoking can have adverse effects on the eyes including – but not limited to – cataracts, macular degeneration and damage of the optic nerve. It doesn’t matter how many times you have tried to quit before keep going. You can ask your doctor for extra support and more information on how to kick the habit for good! Not only does quitting smoking mean better eye health but also has a positive impact on your general health, too!

3. Eat Better

We all love a kebab every now and then but make sure you are eating nutritious foods like green leafy vegetables, salmon, tuna, eggs, and oranges etc. Maintaining a healthy diet can help keep away age-related vision problems such as cataracts or macular degeneration. One of the most common causes of blindness in adults is type 2 diabetes that can often be avoided by developing better eating habits.

4. Keep Your Sunglasses On

We’re not asking you to put them on in your sleep but definitely wear sunglasses when you’re on holiday or anywhere where your eyes will be exposed to the sun. Choosing the right pair of sunglasses can help protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

5. Always Carry an Extra Pair of Frames with You

We have seen it many times, your glasses break and you don’t have the means of getting them fixed. Whether you are in the car or on the bus, always carrying a spare pair of frames with you… especially if you wear contact lenses and start to feel irritated! Make sure they are an up-to-date prescription too.

6. Sports Eyewear

If you are a sports junkie and don’t wear specifically designed sports eyewear – let’s just say, we are very disappointed. Safety first, always! Sports eyewear comes in unique designs, created for each individual sport such as skiing, golfing and/or even cycling. Whatever your sport is, seek professional advice on what you should be wearing to protect your eyes so that you can focus on the sport.

7. Always Keep Your Contact Lenses Clean

Do not wash your contact lenses with water but with the solution provided to you by your eye care practitioner. Wash your hands before taking in or taking out your contact lenses and do not exceed the recommended duration of wear. Doing so can cause bacteria to build in the eye and cause severe infections or eye diseases in the eye.

8. Don’t Strain Your Eyes on A Computer

Eye strain or digital eye strain occurs when you focus on a computer or mobile screen causing less blinks and dryer eyes. If you work on a computer quite often or have to use your mobile phone a lot use the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away (around 20 feet) for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you have intervals where you are giving your eyes a break and not straining them too hard.

9. Regularly Change Your Make-Up

It’s easy to keep makeup in your bag and forget about it for a while however makeup has expiry dates too once you open it. Make sure you regularly change mascaras as bacteria build up leads to infections in the eye. If you wear contact lenses, always make sure you take your contact lenses out – with clean hands – before removing your makeup. Do not rub or irritate the eyes with makeup remover solutions.

10. Lighting Is Everything

…and not just for selfies! If you like to stay up reading or watch your favourite television show, make sure you are in a well-lit room where you do not have to strain your eyes too hard to continue your activity.

So, there we have our 10 Top Tips for Eye Health! If you have any questions or would like to speak to one of our experts for a confidential discussion about your eye health, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us by calling 01592 872525.