Last week’s blog we talked making a comprehensive eye exam part of your New Year’s Resolutions. While exercise and eating healthier typically makes the list, the best way to start a new year is knowing your and your family’s vision is healthy! Statistics from Your Sight Matters, reveals, “61 million Americans are at risk for vision loss but less than half have visited their eye doctor in the past 12 months.”
Make your vision a priority this year by incorporating these tips
Enjoy Eye Friendly Foods
Good vision starts with eye friendly foods. Eyes require nutrients to work properly and adjust to light and dark. Foods such as, spinach and dark leafy vegetables, orange and red vegetables, squashes and carrots, all have lots of nutrients. Omega-3 fish oil has been shown to be beneficial for healthy eyes.
Take Care of Your Contact Lenses
Proper care of contact lenses may seem trivial, but not taking care of them can cause serious consequences. While it may be tempting, only wear contacts for the prescribed amount of time. If not it can lead to serious problems, such as permanent vision loss. Short term side effects include; sore, red eyes and blurred vision.
Before handling your contact lenses, make sure your hands are clean. Any debris or residue and make their way onto the lenses and into your eyes.
At least once a month clean the contact lens case with a sterile solution or hot water and let air dry to prevent bacteria from growing.
Follow the 20/20/20 Rule
With so many of us on our computers and phones a good part of the day, it can affect our eyes. Making them tired, causing blurred vision, dry eyes, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and having difficulty focusing.
“Two-thirds of Americans spend up to 7 hours a day using computers or other digital devices such as tablets and smart phones. This constant eye activity increases the risk for computer vision syndrome (CVS) and can cause problems such as dry eye, eyestrain, headaches, neck and/or backache, and fatigue. The AOA recommends that people practice the 20/20/20 rule (every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look at something 20 feet away).” American Optometric Association.
Catching issues early is an important key to everyone’s long-term vision health. The Vision Team at Lake Nona Eye Care provides a comprehensive eye examination in a positive relaxed, environment for children and adults, ages 5 and up.
Make an appointment with Lake Nona Eye Care at one of our two Lake Nona locations, Moss Park 407-658-9990 and Eagle Creek 407-930-5305