Ten Healthy Eye Habits to Adopt in the New Year

The New Year is a good time to adopt lifestyle habits that promote good vision and healthy eyes. Sticking to healthy eye habits all year long helps reduce the risk of eye diseases, injuries, and vision loss. Even small changes can have a positive impact on your eye health.
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Below are several helpful vision habits to adopt in the new year.

Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, which in turn is a risk factor for developing diabetic retinopathy and vision loss. If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about safe ways to reduce your weight. Options can include nutritional counseling, medication, and weight loss programs.

Get regular exercise: Regular exercise is beneficial for your overall well-being, and that also includes your eye health. For instance, several eye diseases are associated with other health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Getting regular exercise could help reduce your risk of these diseases. 

Don't smoke: Smoking can damage the blood vessels that supply important nutrients to your eyes. Smoking can also put you at a higher risk for certain diseases, such as high blood pressure, which can also have an adverse effect on your vision. 

Protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays: Increased exposure to UV rays can increase your risk of developing eye diseases such as cataracts. Wearing sunglasses outdoors during the day is one of the best ways to block harmful rays from the sun.

Schedule an eye exam: One of the most important things you can do to protect your vision is to have an eye exam.  A comprehensive eye exam can help identify various types of eye diseases in their earliest stages. Early diagnosis and treatment may help slow the progression of some types of eye diseases. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends having a comprehensive eye exam by age 40. However, you should have an eye exam earlier if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of eye diseases. 

Eat a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet: The foods you eat can impact your vision in different ways.  For example, eating foods high in sugar, salt, and trans fats can increase your risk of becoming overweight and developing diabetes. It can also lead to fluid retention and puffiness under your eyes. But the opposite is also true. Eating nutrient-dense foods that contain antioxidants, omega-3s, and flavonoids can provide the nutrients your body and eyes need to remain healthy.

Reduce digital eye strain: If you're like many people, you spend a reasonable amount of time looking at your cell phone, laptop, or other digital device. To reduce fatigue and digital eye strain, give your eyes a break by practicing the 20/20/20 rule. The suggestion involves taking a short break every 20 minutes to look at something roughly 20 feet away for a minimum of 20 seconds. 
Take appropriate eye safety precautions: Remember to wear the appropriate eye safety glasses for the activity you are doing. This includes sports and various household chores, such as yard work and home improvement projects.
Stay well hydrated: Drinking sufficient water keeps your system working efficiently. It also helps provide the needed hydration to produce adequate tears and reduce your risk of dry eyes.

Practice good eye hygiene: You have probably heard it a million times, but washing your hands is one of the best things you can do to reduce your risk of infection. Make it a habit to wash your hands before applying or removing eye makeup or handling contacts. Throw away old makeup to reduce the risk of a bacterial eye infection. Also, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for contact wearing.

Although it's always important to prioritize your vision and eye health, the new year is a good time to recommit to healthy lifestyle habits. If you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.