Good vision means the ability to enjoy everyday activities such as reading, spending time with loved ones, and driving safely. When your eyes are healthy, you’re less likely to encounter common issues such as dry eye, and the risk of developing conditions such as age-related macular degeneration is lower. Our blog has some useful tips to help you maintain healthy eyes for the long term.

Exercise

Regular exercise is good for your body, but did you know it can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration? Cardio exercise can help lower the pressure in your eyes and protect cells in your retina. It also has the advantage of improving tear production, helping to relieve dry eyes.

Combatting Summer Heat

Dry eye can be a common summer issue when humid weather and air conditioning can exacerbate symptoms. If your eyes feel gritty or irritated, try having regular screen breaks, using eye drops, or soothing your eyes with a warm washcloth.

Protective Eyewear

Do you wear eye protection at home or work? When gardening or doing DIY projects, it’s important to wear protective eyewear to guard against dirt, debris, chemicals, and allergens. This helps prevent injuries and damage occurring to the surface of the eye.

Stop Smoking

Smoking doubles your risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of sight loss in the UK. Quitting smoking can improve your eye health and reduce the risk of dry eyes. Your local stop-smoking service can give advice and support on methods to help you kick the habit.

Sun Protection

Protecting your eyes from the sun’s UV rays is essential, especially in summer when UV levels are higher. Sunglasses are the most effective way to protect your eyes, and polarised lenses can help to cut out glare. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat can also offer additional protection.

Book an Eye Test

One of the most important things you can do to keep your eyes healthy is to have regular eye exams. They are the only way to detect many eye problems in the early stages when they are most treatable. Most adults should have their eyes checked every two years, while children under the age of 16 should have annual eye exams unless advised otherwise by our optometrists.

Find out more about your eye health

If you follow our recommendations to exercise, protect your eyes wearing protective eyewear, avoid smoking and have regular eye exams, you have a good chance of your eyes staying healthy.

If you have any questions or concerns or need to book an eye test, contact us at your local Bagot Opticians. We’ll be happy to help.