How to Take Care of Your Eye Health
Dr. Nicholas Rutkowski is one of the finest optometrists in Illinois. He can significantly help you improve the health of your eyes.
Despite an optometrist being crucial in addressing visual health disorders, there is much you can do to prevent them in the first place. The following are some tips to help you take care of your eyes every day:
1. Wash Your Hands Often
Your hands are, in some instances, your eyes’ worst enemy. Your hands come into contact with many surfaces and hence are exposed to dirt and harmful pathogens.
When you rub your eyes with dirty hands, you transfer those hazardous elements from your hands to your eyes. Given how delicate your eyes are, these elements can easily cause an infection or illness to your eyes.
Therefore, you should avoid rubbing your eyes as much as possible, and when you do rub them, you should ensure that your hands are clean. Otherwise, use a clean cloth or handkerchief to rub your eyes.
2. Wear Sunglasses
The sun is essential to all life on the planet, but it can be hazardous to your eyes. It is particularly so if you spend the majority of your day outside in the bright light of the sun.
Exposure to the ultraviolet rays produced by the sun makes you more prone to age related macular degeneration. The sun may also scorch your cornea and significantly impede your vision.
Wearing sunglasses limits your eye’s exposure to the sun. You should get eyeglasses or contact lenses from an optometrist or optician that protects you from UV rays.
3. Stay Hydrated
Water is crucial to essentially every process in your body, including keeping your eyes wet. The water in your eyes helps remove the dirt and bacteria that accumulate on them while your eyes are open.
When you are dehydrated, the dust and bacteria stick to your eyes much more easily and increase the chances of infection. It will also cause a great deal of irritation in your eyes.
Therefore, you need to drink as much water as possible every day. If you are engaged in activities such as playing outdoor sports or bike riding, you should drink even more water.
4. Eat a Healthy Diet
As with every organ in your body, your diet affects the health of your eyes. Generally, a healthy diet will ensure that your eyes remain healthy.
However, there are certain nutrients in food that specifically benefit your eyes’ health. Such nutrients include beta-carotene, lutein, omega 3, and lycopene. and vitamins E, C, and A are essential for the health of your eyes.
5. Limit Use of Electronic Devices
The vast majority of electronic devices emit light that is harmful to your eyes. Elongated periods of looking at electronic screens can severely hamper your vision.
It would help if you only used electronic devices when you have to do so. When you have to use a phone or computer, you should try protecting your eyes with glasses or a screen shield.
You should also take long breaks away from your devices to ensure that your eyes recover from the damage.
