Spring Into Healthy Habits for Your Eyes

Spring is in the air, and it’s the perfect time to incorporate new healthy habits into your life. Many factors in your lifestyle can affect eye health, and taking the right steps can promote good vision and healthy aging. Read on for six practices you can “spring” into this season for healthy vision!

Why Eye Health is Important

Incorporating certain habits into your lifestyle can slow the progression of age-related eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts. Similarly, adding eye-healthy habits to your daily routine can help prevent discomfort such as redness and itchiness, as well as issues like dry eyes and eye fatigue, regardless of age.

Healthy Habits for Better Vision

Use UV Protection

Wearing polarized glasses, even when it’s cold or cloudy, will help slow the progression of sun damage, which can cause age-related conditions to develop more rapidly. Wearing sunglasses when stepping outside, no matter the season, will alleviate eye strain in bright light and reduce the risk of photokeratitis (sunburn of the eyes). Next time you go shopping for sunglasses, make sure you pick ones that are adequately labeled as having proper UV protection. Such protection is especially important in children, since so much of our lifetime exposure to UV light happens during the first 18 years. Our Optical Shoppe offers a variety of sunglasses that protect your eyes year-round.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Adding foods rich in Vitamin A, C, E, and Omega-3 fatty acids will help to support parts of your eyes—the retina, photoreceptors, aqueous humor fluid in the eye lenses—that rely on these nutrients to function properly. Some foods that will help you get these vitamins and vital nutrients are egg yolks, carrots, spinach, oranges, kale, peppers, almonds, and fish.

Hydrate

Hydration is also key to having healthy eyes, especially since dehydration can lead to low tear production, causing dry eyes. As temperatures get higher, it’s important to remember that drinking water throughout the day can prevent any dry eye symptoms and discomfort. It’s also important to stay hydrated when exercising- don’t forget to bring a water bottle!

Practice the 20-20-20 Rule

Whether you’re working from home, watching TV, or using your phone, practicing this rule can help prevent eye strain and reduce the chances of headaches caused by excessive screen exposure. For every 20 minutes you look at your screen, stare at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will give your eyes a break from any screens and assist in lowering the chances of eye fatigue.

Exercise Frequently

Get moving! Frequent exercise can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of eye conditions caused by high blood pressure. Exercising will also help you balance a healthy lifestyle. The spring season is a great time to get outside and enjoy some fresh air while you exercise.

Don’t Smoke

Did you know that smoking cigarettes and using vapes or e-cigarettes have many harmful side effects on our eyes? Even years after quitting, the chances of developing eye conditions from smoking are higher in those who have smoked. Some of the negative effects are macular degeneration, oxidative damage, redness, blurry vision, and dry eyes. There are also many dangers smoking can pose to your overall well-being, such as the risk of vape explosions and ingestion of chemicals. For the overall safety and health of your eyes, quitting smoking is crucial.

Contact Better Vision New Jersey!

Incorporating these six practices into your daily routine can promote better vision and support a healthier aging process for your eyes. Not only are these habits simple to maintain, but they will also benefit you in the long run and help you lead a healthier lifestyle. With any questions or to schedule your next appointment, call Better Vision New Jersey at (908) 276-3030!