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This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice.
During the cost of living crisis, several individuals struggle to access their entitled level of eye care. Taking preventive measures to care for your eye health is vital. However, the rising costs of eye tests, ophthalmic services, and glasses make most individuals neglect their eye health. According to the Association of Optometrists, a fall in the standard of living will negatively affect the standard of living of individuals.
There are several resources that make it less stressful and costly to keep your eyes healthy during a cost-of-living crisis. The following are some ways to protect your eye health for less during the cost of living crisis. Some of these ways are:
Create a Durable Daily Eye Routine
You can create and follow a daily routine to maintain and keep your vision sharp. The following habits should be a part of your routine to maintain your eye health:
Frequent Hand Washing: Washing your hands helps to keep bacteria at bay. Hand washing helps to prevent the bacteria from contacting the eyes and eyeglasses.
Ensure to Stay Hydrated: Ensure to stay hydrated and use sufficient fluid. Staying hydrated will help improve your overall wellbeing and maintain your eye health. If you intake sufficient fluid, you can prevent dry and irritated eyes.
Get Enough Rest and Sleep: Sleeping will help relax the eye and body. Sleeping will allow the eyes to recharge. It is vital to get sufficient sleep to keep the eyes healthy and revitalized.
Do not Rub Your Eyes
The hands are parts of the body often exposed to dirt and bacteria. This dirt and bacteria can transfer to your eyes and cause infection or irritation each time you rub them. Hence, getting rid of the habit as soon as possible is vital.
Create and Follow a Nutritious Diet for Your Eye Health
Follow a balanced and nutritious diet rich in zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins E and C. These nutrients help eliminate vision problems such as cataracts and AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration). According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), AMD occurs due to a damaged part of the macula leading to a loss of central vision.
To get nutrients that are rich enough to benefit the eye, eat more of the following foods:
Citrus juices such as tangerines, grapefruit, and oranges
Oysters
Oily fish, flaxseeds, trout, and salmon
Non-meat protein sources such as nuts, dairy, seeds, and beans
Avocados, sunflower seeds, and olive oil
Eating a balanced diet also helps you keep a healthy weight and lower the odds of type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC, type 2 diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy, one of the leading causes of blindness. You can reduce vision loss by diabetic retinopathy by:
Manage high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure
Engage in physical activities to help manage diabetes
Ensure to keep a targeted range of blood sugar levels
Avoid Blue-Light Reflections
Ensure to look away from your computer screen as it reflects blue light, which can affect eye health. When you stare at your phone or computer screen for long, you tend to strain your eyes and experience the following:
Dry eyes
Blurry vision
Headaches
Pain in the back, back, and shoulder
The following are some of the ways to protect the eyes:
Use an anti-glare screen and avoid glare from lights and windows
Blink more if you notice your eyes are dry
Choose and place your comfortable chair in a position that ensures your feet are flat on the floor
Protect Your Eyes from UVA and UVB Radiation
Research shows that one of the factors in several diseases, such as cataracts, is the harmful UVB and UVA rays in the sunlight. These UV rays can cause DNA changes which may lead to skin cancers on the eyelids. It also causes the skin around the eyes to age prematurely, leading to several eye conditions, such as conjunctival cancers. You can use sunglasses or transition glasses to protect your eyes from the sun.
Do the 20-20-20 Rule to Avoid Dry Eye
Dry eye occurs when the eyes do not make the right amount or type of tear film. One of the symptoms of dry eye is when it has lots of tears, which negatively affects eye health. When there is irritation in the eyes due to dry eye, the eyes tend to make more tears. Dry eyes causes irritation, stinging, pain, and redness, which affects an individual’s vision.
One of the ways to prevent dry eye and protect eye health is by wearing wraparound glasses when outside. Steering clear of very warm colors also helps to protect eye health.
Protect Your Eye Health
Due to the present cost of living crisis, eye health is under threat in most countries. However, several less costly ways exist to protect your eyes and improve your vision. Eating nutritious meals rich in vitamins E and C and avoiding blue-light reflections also helps to improve eye health.
Eyeglasses.com is a company that offers their patients eye care and prescription sunglasses. If you are looking for the best glasses frame and prescription, you can find it here. Reach out to Eyeglasses.com for your prescription glasses to aid vision.
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