Sight, or the ability to see is something many of us take for granted. These sensitive organs are truly remarkable but go pretty unnoticed as we charge through our day. That is, until something goes wrong.
Here’s what to do to keep your eyes healthy:
- Try to maintain a healthy, balanced diet that includes carrots for vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acid proteins like salmon or mackerel, leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits. These all help promote eye health from retina functionality, macular degeneration, dry eyes and general retina health.
- Drink lots of water. Being well hydrated is always healthy, but drinking lots of water flushes any harmful toxins in your body that might damage your sight.
- Wear protective eyewear. Whether you’re playing sport, gardening or doing some kind of manual labour, always ensure that you wear some form of protective eyewear in case something shoots up into your eye.
- Rest your eyes on a regular basis: Pick a point about five to seven metres away and focus on it for 20 to 30 seconds. Do this every 20 to 30 minutes of screen time.
Knowing what to look for is half the battle won when it comes to eye health. There’s a simple check you can perform – the RSVP check – and you should see your doctor or go to the emergency ward if you experience any of them:
- R stands for any redness to the eyes. This can indicate an infection in your eye.
- S is for secretion or sensitivity. If you have any form of abnormal discharge from your eyes or increased sensitivity to your eyes, it could be an indication of infection, various health conditions or something trapped in the eye.
- V is for a decrease in vision, which could indicate a multitude of serious health issues.
- P is for pain. Any unexplained pain radiating from your eyes could be an indication of a serious health condition. Direct pain in the eye could indicate something trapped inside your eye, causing damage.
When it comes to most things, prevention is better than any cure. Visiting an eye doctor (or ophthalmologist) on a regular basis is a great idea to keep your eyes healthy.
Here are six things your eye doctor would want you to know:
- If you notice any kind of fluctuation or change to your sight or eye health, including sudden blindness for a short period or unexplained pain in your eyes, contact your doctor immediately. Never ignore any eye symptoms as they might be an indicator to a larger problem.
- Tell your doctor if you’re a smoker – and if you are, try your best to give it up.
- Never use tap water to rinse your eyes! No matter how treated your tap water might be, it could still contain harmful parasites or bacteria that could cause an eye infection. Always keep some form of eye drops, saline solution or artificial tears on hand if your eyes become dry or you need to flush something from them. Keep your eyes shut in the shower and keep tap water from getting under your eyelids.
- If your family has any history of glaucoma, tell your doctor and get tested. Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerves and can cause vision loss. It’s more common in the elderly. However, if you have a family member who has suffered from glaucoma, it’s possible for it to start at any age. Regular tests for glaucoma can detect it early, allowing for treatment to slow the deterioration.
- Always wear your sunglasses. Any pair of sunglasses is better than none, as long as they have 100% UV protection lenses. UV rays damage your eyes without you noticing and sunglasses are a quick, easy fix to ensure that you protect your eyes on a daily basis.
- Get your eyes tested! A yearly visit to your eye doctor is highly recommended, but if you’ve had two to three clear tests in a row, it's possible to skip a year with your doctor’s permission. However, always keep RSVP in mind and see your doctor immediately if you have any unusual symptoms.
Getting your eyes checked regularly is of the utmost importance. Consider signing up with GetSavvi Health insurance today. Find out more by simply filling out your details and one of our consultants will contact you.
References:
How to Get Rid of Eye Floaters
10 Things Your Eye Doctor Wants You to Know
7 Things Eye Doctors Really Wish You Knew
11 Secrets Your Eye Doctor Won’t Tell You