The Skinny
A lot of famous people have been cited as the author of the famous quote: The eyes are the window to the soul. This includes William Shakespeare, Leonardo Da Vinci, the philosopher Cicero and even some biblical characters. Doesn’t matter. The words are what count. But eyes are not just beautiful gateways to our inner beings, they are also how we connect visually to others and the world in general. All this makes it critical to take care of them. Regular visits to optometrists and ophthalmologists are a must, but so is basic eye care. WellWell, naturally, is here to help with some essential tips.
The Slate
Use Safety Eyewear
Safety glasses or protective goggles are a must if someone works around hazardous or airborne materials. Those involved in DYI projects at home should also use them. Into sports like ice hockey, racquetball and lacrosse? Get some eye protection like helmets with protective face masks or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses.
Wash Your Hands
Clean hands and healthy eyes go together, especially for contact lens wearers. Ignoring this advice is a great way to transfer germs and bacteria from fingers that can lead to eye infections, like bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye). So, before touching your eyes for any reason—including removing lenses—good hand washing is a must. Use a mild soap and thoroughly dry with a lint-free towel before touching anything.
Sun Protection
Manfred Mann delivered killer lyrics in his song Blinded By The Light. Unfortunately, in practical terms, it’s just not great advice for eye care. What’s the risk? Excessive UV sun exposure can lead to cornea burns, cataracts and macular degeneration. There is even a risk of developing skin cancer on the eyelids. That’s why it is always wise to wear UVA and UVB blocking sunglasses even on cloudy days.
Eat The Right Foods
Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C and E are yet another way to take care of your peepers. They all help lower the chance of developing macular degeneration or cataracts. Another way to maintain strong eyesight is to indulge in green veggies, salmon, eggs, and citrus fruits.
Stop Smoking
There are lots of reasons to stop smoking and yet another is that puffing away can harm eye health. Research shows that smoking can damage optic nerves, result in macular degeneration can lead to cataracts—all of which can lead to blindness.
Computer warning
Too many people spend too much time in front of computers, which among other problems can lead to computer vision syndrome (CVS). The byproducts of CVS include eye strain, headaches, blurred vision and dry eyes. Fortunately, these symptoms tend to dissipate when computer time is reduced.
Eyes Up
What’s your biggest eye handicap? Let us know at info@wellwellusa.com.
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