Today is World Sight Day. As the theme for this year is ‘Love Your Eyes’, we wanted to bring you some tips on how you can care for your sight and a reminder to book an eye exam today.
Regular eye exams can help to detect a problem with your eyes before you have noticed a change in your vision and early detection is vital in the fight against preventable sight loss.
- Follow the 20/20 rule to give your eyes screen breaks
When using a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes, to avoid eye strain and headaches.
2. Spend time outside
Children should spend at least two hours a day outside. This also helps their eyes develop in a healthy way and helps them avoid developing near-sightedness.
3. Wear sunglasses outside
Make sure your sunglasses offer UVA and UVB protection to prevent radiation from the sun damaging your eyes.
4. Wear prescription glasses, if you need them
You should wear your prescription glasses to see clearly and prevent your eyes from having to work harder which can lead to eye strain and headaches.
5. Check your cosmetics to avoid eye infections
Check the expiry date on eye makeup and replace your brushes regularly to prevent the build-up of bacteria that could cause eye infections.
6. Exercise regularly
Doing regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure which can affect your sight.
7. Eat a healthy diet
Eating a balanced diet ensures you have the vitamins and minerals that are essential for maintaining healthy eyes.
8. Don’t smoke
Smoking increases your risk of developing serious eye conditions and permanent sight loss.
9. Book an eye exam
An eye test can detect an eye condition even before it’s affected your eyesight, so even if you don’t think there’s anything wrong with your eyes, you should book a test.
10. Prioritise your eyes – you need them to last all of your life
Put reminders in your calendar to have regular eye checks. You should have your eyes checked every 1-2 years.