We have hands to feel, a nose to smell, ears to hear, but our eyes are one of our most important parts. Without vision, life becomes dark and difficult. That means eye care should be on the top of your priority list, so check out all the great expert advice below.
If you want the best eye health possible, only visit highly trained eye professionals for your exams. See if those you know can give you the name of a good eye doctor they have used. This will help you get the best help possible.
Always wash your hands before you touch your eyes. Your fingers are covered with bacteria because your hands touch surfaces that other people have touched. If you touch your eyes without washing your hands, you will transfer bacteria to your eyes and cause irritation or even an infection. Therefore, before touching your eyes, wash your hands with soap and water.
It is a smart choice to wear sunglasses in the winter, not just in the summer. It makes good sense when your realize how reflective snow can be. Even without snow, the sun shines brightly. This is true even on overcast days.
People who wear contacts need to take particularly good care of their eyes. While contacts are very useful for vision, if the materials are not properly cleaned and maintained, it can be potentially damaging to eyes. Make sure your contacts are the right prescription and that you follow all instructions provided by your health care professional.
If you wear contacts, you must follow your eye doctor's instruction carefully. If your eyes feel irritated when you put them on, that can mean that your contact lenses are damaged. Another reason could be an eye problem that is beginning to form. See your eyecare professional right away to prevent a more serious problem.
You need to know if you have a family history of eye problems. Some conditions concerning eyes are hereditary and having this information is important. Talk to your elderly relatives to learn what vision problems they may be experiencing.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be great for excellent eye care. Eating foods containing this important nutrient will help you maintain good vision. Foods that make this list include leafy green vegetables, salmon, tuna, halibut and more. You should at eat at least one serving per day.
If you blink a lot you might have an eye problem. If you do not have dry eyes, consider that it may be a nervous tic as a result of stress. If stress is the cause, try relaxing. If this does not work, consult a professional.
Remember to replace your contact lenses at least once every three months. Two months is actually a much better target, or even one month. Many people forget to replace their contacts as frequently as they should, which later leads to more serious problems in the eyes, such as irritation, ulcers, or infections.
Always take out your contact lenses before you sleep. Contact lenses that are left inside the eyes for too long will harbor bacteria growth. You should remove your contact lenses every night and disinfect them properly. Failing to do so will just set you up for more frequent eye infections.
To diminish puffy eyes, use slices of raw potato. Cut the potato into half circles and place over your closed eyes. If you prefer, you can grate the potato and place in some Muslin cloth, then squeeze excess liquid out and place on closed eyes. Leave either on for 15-20 minutes for best effect.
Do you wear contacts? If so, make sure you have a pair of glasses that you can wear if your eyes get irritated. You do not want to make the situation worse by forcing yourself to wear the contacts because serious problems can result. Also, make sure you keep the contacts very clean.
Try not to touch your eyes. It may seem hard to do, but your hands carry many germs and irritants that can get into your eyes and cause issues. You should also never scratch your eyes. If you must touch or rub your eyes, make sure your hands are clean and that you handle them gently.
Take breaks if you work on a computer. When you work a lot with things like documents, you should make sure your blood flow is alright. You have to be sure that you get more oxygen in your eyes to get more things working for your brain.
See an optometrist. As you get older, your eyes do not work as well as they once did. You may not have needed glasses your entire life, but its a good idea to see an optometrist every year, the same as you see a dentist every few months. An optometrist will be able to tell you how your eyes are doing, and you can get glasses if necessary.
Get enough sleep. A lot of people don't understand how important sleep is to their body, including their eyes. When you don't get enough rest, you start to have eyestrain, which can lead to painful headaches and a sense of sleepiness and fatigue. Just make sure that you get 7-8 hours of sleep a night so that your eyes can rest.
With so much advice here on caring for your eyes, you know that you have a great knowledge of the topic now. While knowing a lot is great, using that knowledge is key. Be sure to start implementing these ideas one by one so that you can keep your eyes healthy and happy.