Keep Your Eyes Healthy
You’d be surprised about what your eyes can tell us about your overall health.
They can offer clues to your diet and lifestyle, and show signs of high cholesterol and diabetes. So when we test your eyes, we are not only looking at the strength of your eyesight. But we don’t just want you to get your eyes tested every two years. We want you to keep your eyes healthy every day. Here’s how to do it:
Healthy Diet
As well as overall body condition, a healthy diet has real benefits for your eye health. It may be an old wives’ tale to say that carrots help you see in the dark – but it’s not far wrong. Carrots are, in fact, rich in beta-carotene, which helps to protect against night blindness and cataracts. Your eyes depend on the fluid that surrounds them to clean them of grit and dirt. If you are dehydrated, your eyes can’t produce enough fluid to keep your eyes clean and healthy.
Make sure you drink plenty of water, and try to limit the amount of alcohol you drink, as this causes a drop in the level of glutathione, an antioxidant that helps protect against eye disease.
The Omega-3 found in flax seed, and oily fish like sardines, mackerel and tuna, can also help prevent ‘dry eye.’ Dry eye occurs when the eyes cannot produce enough tears, resulting in the eyes drying out and becoming sore and inflamed.
Eye Safety
Your eyes are delicate and sensitive – and we put them through a lot both in our home and work lives. It is important that you take measures to protect them against the worst that modern life has to throw at them.
It is vital that you wear safety glasses or goggles if you work in a factory, in construction or forestry or if you work with chemicals. Foreign bodies and harmful or corrosive chemicals can do a lot of damage to the delicate tissue of the eye.
If a foreign body or harmful chemicals do find their way into your eye, wash your eyes out thoroughly with water and seek medical attention immediately.
If you suffer from hay fever or pollen allergies, then it is important to treat the eyes for itchiness and irritation. Come into one of our branches to talk to us about what treatments are available.
If you are having problems with your eyes, or are experiencing any uncomfortable symptoms, please do not hesitate to make an appointment with one of our optometrists.