Top 5 Ways To Care for Your Eyes

From eagle eyes to the windows of the soul, for most people, eyes are one of the most used ways of taking in the world. Using their eyes, people read, drive cars, appreciate art, detect subtle emotions and interact with their surroundings. Whether or not your eyes require corrective lenses, it makes sense to pay special attention to keeping your peepers working in top condition. Try these top five tips to care for your eyes.

Regularly Visit an Eye Care Specialist

Experts recommend that children see an optometrist every 2-3 years, younger adults visit at least once every 5 years, and those over forty come in every other year, even if there doesn't seem to be any problem. It's most likely that vision deficiencies, especially genetic ones, occur in children and older adults, but eye damage can occur at any age. Small problems like scratches, dryness and color blindness can be almost impossible to notice by anyone who isn't an eye care professional. Such unnoticeable problems have been known to become major problems if they are overlooked, so don't forget to schedule your appointments!

Wear Protective Lenses

In many industries, protective goggles are required. Do you wear protective lenses at home though? A variety of seemingly harmless activities are actually a huge threat to the safety of your eyes. Dusting, construction, fine crafts, spending time in the sun and any activity involving sharp implements poses a threat to your vision. For those who wear corrective lenses, going without glasses can be dangerous and cause severe eye strain, while dirty lenses may cause headaches and trouble seeing. Tired of glasses? Tips for finding the right contacts like those found at Hubble and Waldo contacts reviewed make it easy to slide into the right corrective lenses so you can more easily put on protective eyewear when needed.

Maintain a Healthy Diet and Sleep Habits

Like many aspects of health, great vision is contingent on other healthy habits. You may have heard that eating carrots helps to keep your eyes healthy. It must be true since we rarely see rabbits wearing glasses. Carrots aren't the only foods that strengthen vision, however. Your eyes need a variety of vitamins and minerals to allow them to work properly. Rounding your diet with brightly-colored fruits and vegetables, fish, eggs, dairy and nuts supports not only your eyes but the rest of your body. Additionally, sleeping regularly and well helps to give your eyes time to heal and rejuvenate so you're always ready for your day.

Avoid Eye Strain

As culture moves more and more toward an online world, it's easy to spend days on end peering at a screen. Other activities such as adjusting between dim and bright lights, reading in the dark and working in the sun can also strain your eyes. It's easy to tell when your eyes are feeling strained. They might be dry and red, or you might have a headache right under your forehead. If you feel this way, or perhaps beforehand, just take a break to avoid eye strain. Go for a walk, look at something besides your phone or a computer. If space permits, relax with an eye-pillow or other therapeutic eye care.

Stay Hydrated

Everyone has heard that staying hydrated is critical to good health. Certainly drink water, but also be aware that your eyes can become dry for a variety of reasons. Especially in winter, you may need a humidifier or artificial tears to keep your eyes from becoming dry. Dry eyes are easier to damage, so don't ignore them.

Some people naturally have excellent vision. Others constantly deal with corrective lenses or other aids to their eyesight. No matter what your vision is like, there are many simple things you can do to help keep your eyes in the best condition possible. Whether you're keeping your eye on the ball or you're giving someone the eye, ensure your optic system is functioning at its best every day.