It’s almost that time again when we welcome a new year. If you’re like a lot of people, you might have a New Year’s resolution. Whether you want to do volunteer work, hit the gym, or save more money, the start of a new year is a great time to set some goals. One goal you might want to consider is a resolution to maintain or improve your eye health. |
1. Schedule Regular Eye Exams
2. Don't Ignore Vision Issues
3. Give Your Eyes A Break
Since most of us don’t plan to give up our electric devices anytime soon, be sure to give your eyes a break. Practice the 20-20-20 rule. Rest your eyes by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Better yet, evaluate how much time you spend on your electric devices and determine if you can cut your screen time back a little.
4. Get Physically Active
Many people take up exercise programs as part of their New Year’s resolutions. If you are just getting back into exercise after being sedentary for a while or you are starting a new form of exercise, it may be advisable to speak with your primary care doctor before getting started. Your physician can help you identify an exercise regimen that is safe, fun, and appropriate for you.
5. Protect Your Eyes
Eye injuries on the job and at home are also common. People that work around or with chemicals, tools, machinery, and / or flying debris are at the highest risk. Make it a resolution to always protect your eyes by wearing appropriate safety goggles.
We can all protect our eyes from the damaging UV rays from the sun by wearing sunglasses that provide 100 percent UVB and UVA protection. The sun’s rays reflect off of surfaces, such as water, snow, and pavement. So, remember to wear your shades year-round. The sun can harm your eyes in the winter just as easily as in the summer.
6. Kick The Habit
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, smoking increases risk of developing certain eye conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. It can also make certain eye problems, such as dry eye, worse.
If you smoke, talk to your doctor about options to help you quit. The American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society also have resources to help smokers kick the habit.
The resolutions above are great ways to take care of your eyes and protect your vision, but that’s not all. These suggestions are also good for your overall health, not just your eyes. Remember, vision and health issues can interfere with work, independence, and quality of life.
We hope our post helped inspire a few ideas for New Year’s resolutions for healthy eyes and healthy living. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.