It can be all too easy to take our eyesight for granted, expecting that we will always have, if not perfect, then at least reasonable vision. But maybe we should pay more attention to this most vital part of our bodies, as some of the common health issues associated with eyes can be prevented.

Looking after your eyes

A modern lifestyle is a significant factor in many of the eye problems most people experience. Apart from age-related vision problems, such as macular degeneration and floaters, existing vision problems. It can be exacerbated by staring at a computer screen for too long. The former can bring about dry eye syndrome because our blink rate reduces when reading a screen. Meaning that, eyes are not lubricated as often as they need, blocking the tear glands and causing oils to build up. While bright sunshine can speed up the development of cataracts.

The simple answer to this latter vision problems is to always wear sunglasses in situations of strong sunlight. Being mindful that they need to provide 100% UV-A and UV-B ray protection. This will not only delay the onset of cataracts, but also prevent damage to your retina. And also help to protect the sensitive skin around your eyes from skin cancer. Dry eye syndrome can also make you more sensitive to light. So if you suffer with this, you should always wear sunglasses, especially when driving.

Contact Lenses for Vision Problems

Wearing contact lenses can also increase the chances of problems developing with your vision. For example, improper cleaning methods. Such as, using out-of-date cleaning solutions increases the possibility of bacteria entering the eye. This can obviously cause infections, such as conjunctivitis. But also corneal ulcers and ultimately loss of vision. Lenses should not be worn 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, but swapped over with glasses to give eyes a rest. If this puts you off wearing lenses and glasses are not really your thing. Then an alternative is to have laser eye surgery. Laser eye surgery is painless and quick, and offers fast recovery times – in most cases, within just a day.

Then there are the lifestyle changes you can make. For example, smokers are much more likely to develop the age-related macular degeneration and cataracts than non-smokers. Therefore, quitting smoking should help to prevent these conditions, as well as improving your overall health. Not eating the right types of food that contain certain vitamins can also damage your eye health, sometimes impairing retinal function. The best way to ensure you are getting all the vitamins you need is to eat a varied diet. Especially leafy, green vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage.

While some vision problems are simply a sign of ageing, you can take steps to delay or prevent altogether some problems from developing. Such as eating a healthy diet, wearing appropriate protective visual aids and ensuring good hygiene in regards to their use.