Eye Care

May 18, 2020 

Most people will experience eye problems during their life. There are many different types and causes of these problems. Here are the most common issues:

  • Eyestrain - It happens when you overuse your eyes. Anyone who reads for hours, works at a computer, or drives long distances knows about this one. This is one of the most common problems
  • Red Eyes – The surface of your eye is covered in blood vessels that expand when they are irritated or infected. That gives your eyes the red look.
  • Night Blindness - Is a symptom, not a problem on its own. Nearsightedness, cataracts, keratoconus, and a lack of vitamin A all cause a type of night blindness
  • Lazy Eye (Amblyopia) - happens when one eye does not develop properly. Vision is weaker in that eye, and it tends to move “lazily” around while the other eye stays put.
  • Cross eyes (Strabismus) – If your eyes do not line up with each other when you look at something
  • Colorblindness - When you cannot see certain colors or cannot tell the difference between them (usually reds and greens).

There are several things you can do every day to help in preventing these eye problems. Here are the most common ones we can do daily.

  • Give your eyes a rest! Looking at a computer for a long time can tire out your eyes. Rest your eyes by taking a break every 20 minutes to look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
  • Eat healthy foods. Be sure to have plenty of dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens. Eating fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids — like salmon, tuna, and halibut — is good for your eyes, too.
  • Get active. Being physically active helps you stay healthy. It can also lower your risk of health conditions that can cause eye health or vision problems — like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
  • Quit smoking. Smoking is not just bad for your lungs — it can hurt your eyes, too! Smoking increases your risk of diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts — and it can harm the optic nerve.
  • Wear sunglasses. Protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses — even on cloudy days! Be sure to look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation.
  • Wear protective eyewear. Safety glasses and goggles are designed to protect your eyes during certain activities, like playing sports, doing construction work, or doing home repairs.

 

Getting a dilated eye exam is simple and painless — and it is the single best thing you can do for your eye health! Visiting the eye doctor once a year is the best way to keeping your eyes healthy. Want to learn more about eye health visit https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health.