What can you do to keep your eyes healthy?

As we get older it sometimes feels as though the idea of wearing glasses goes from a maybe to an inevitability yet research shows 56% of Australians have put off having an eye test^[1]. That might not sound alarming but what does is that by putting off your eye test you are putting yourself at risk of irreversible blindness. Peter Larsen, Optometrist and Director of Optometry at Specsavers advises, “some serious eye conditions, such as macular degeneration, do not always have obvious warning signs. A regular eye check only takes around 20 minutes but could be critical in protecting your long term sight.“

That’s why it’s so important to have regular check-ups with your optometrist every two years, or yearly if you’re over 65. Plus, Specsavers offer bulk billing on standard eye tests, so an eye test shouldn’t cost you a thing. Just bring your Medicare card in store. Click here to book your bulk-billed test today.

So regular eye tests are essential but how do we look after our eyes and avoid eye disease all together?

There’s no way to guarantee the health of your eyes, but there are steps you can take to minimise the odds of eye damage in your future. For starters it’s important to look after your general health. Your diet, habits and surroundings have a massive effect on your eyes, so it helps to know what’s good and what’s bad.

Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is one way to keep healthy eyes. Fruits, vegetables and foods that are high in omega, like fish, are the best. The old adage that carrots are good for your eyes has some merit, but for the best results chow down on anything green and leafy.

Quitting smoking

And if you’re a smoker you could be damaging more than just your lungs. Smoking has been proven to have a direct link to eye damage.

Monitoring your risk of diabetes

The risk of diabetes increases with it as you get older, and the impact on your eyesight can be significant. Unmanaged diabetes can caused blindness.

At Work

Now we come to the modern day cause of much eyestrain and pain – the computer. You might be feeling it as you read this article. As more people spend their days staring at a computer screen, it becomes more important to educate ourselves. You should be able to work hard without overworking your eyes. The first and easiest steps you can take are to make sure your screen is a good 50cm away from your face and positioned just below eye level. If that’s not how you’re working, then make the change right now. I mean it. Stop reading and position you computer properly. All done? Okay.

Using technology and screens at home

We all use more screens than ever in everyday life. Tablets, phones and computers are an increasing part of everyday life. The important thing to remember is to give your eyes a break every now and then. Ignore that mountain of emails for a minute, it’s not going anywhere. Try the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes look at something 20 metres away for 20 seconds. Think of it as a pit stop for your eyes.

Check your lighting

And finally, finding out you have poor eyesight can be a low light, but the cause of it could be just that. Low light in your home or workspace is the most common cause of strained eyes. Try to use natural light as much as possible and light your home well, particularly when reading.

So be sensible, be healthy and don’t be afraid of your optometrist.

Click here to book your bulk billed eye test today.

Do you follow all the rules for healthy eyes? Have any tips of your own? Share in the comments below.

This article is sponsored by Specsavers. For more information, please visit the Specsavers website.

^[1]Galaxy Research, November 2015