It’s the year of 20/20 and we couldn’t be more excited! In honor of this special year, we are putting our focus and efforts into celebrating 20/20 style beginning with our New Years Resolution list:
20 New Year’s Resolutions That Will Benefit Your Eyes.
- Get Better Sleep. We all know that getting plenty of rest is beneficial to our all around health, but the benefit it is to our eyes tops the charts. Our eyes take so much stress from so many sources; the sun, digital screens, allergies, dry air … the list goes on and on. Allowing your eyes to rest for significant amounts of time (as in during sleep) helps to rehydrate and relax your eyes, relieving some of that redness.
- Eat Healthy. Foods rich in Vitamins E and C, Zinc and Omega-3 Fatty Acids can help ward off age-related vision problems such as Cataracts and Macular Degeneration. Some great foods to eat are eggs, nuts, salmon and other fishes, green leafy vegetables like spinach, and plenty of citrus fruits. Your eyes will thank you for it!
- Wear Your Suns. Wearing your sunglasses (even in the winter) will help protect your eyes from the sun’s Ultra Violet rays. Make sure you choose sunglasses that will block both UVA and UVB rays.
- Hydrate. If you are one who doesn’t always get the water you know your body needs, this is the resolution for you! Stay hydrated and keep your eyes from developing dry eye issues.
- Update Your Eye Makeup. Bacteria can easily find its way onto your eye products like mascara or eye liner pencils. Protect your eyes by updating your makeup every few months, and keep your products nice and clean.
- Stop Smoking. If you are a smoker, there is no better time to quit than the present. Smoking exposes you to a higher risk of developing cataracts. It can also cause damage to your optic nerve and contribute to Macular Degeneration. If you have tried to quit in the past and haven’t been successful, keep trying, you can do it!
- Wear Your Safety Lenses. Whether you work in a dangerous atmosphere or are simply mowing the lawn, wear some form of protective wear for your eyes. I can’t emphasize this enough. It is far too often that Dr. Smith is removing slivers of foreign objects from patient’s eyes.
- Exercise. Consistent exercise can help to prevent or control diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. All of these health issues can affect your vision and eye health. Keeping your body healthy means keeping your eyes healthy.
- Take A Break From The Screens. If you are like many people these days, you do a lot of your work from your smartphone or computer. If you are staring at a screen all day, it is a good idea to give your eyes a 20/20/20 break. Every 20 minutes look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. You will feel the difference if you do.
- Get a Blue Light Blocking Product on Your Glasses. Even if you don’t wear glasses normally, getting a pair with a blue light blocking product on the lenses can be very beneficial to your eyes. Blue light is emitted from both the sun and digital screens. Being exposed to too much blue light throughout the day can cause eye strain, fatigue and even headaches. Stop in and ask us how to get a blue light blocker put on your lenses.
- Moisturize. Taking care of the skin around your eyes counts as part of taking care of your eyes. The weather can be harsh on your skin. Using a good moisturizer will help nurture the delicate skin around your eyes, helping you to stay looking your best.
- Wear A Sunscreen. In conjunction with wearing a moisturizer, wearing a sunscreen will also help to protect the skin around your eyes. Try to wear one that is at least a 15 SPF, and apply it several times throughout the day.
- Laugh So Hard You Cry. Tears are a natural moisturizer to your eyes and what better way to get them than from laughing! Make it your resolution this year to laugh often and laugh hard.
- Watch the Sunset. Your eyes are a beautiful gift and offer you a view of a world full of amazing sights. Put them to good use and enjoy something beautiful in your life. It might be a sunset or a loved one’s smile – whatever it is, pay attention to it. Watch it. Observe it. Take it in and enjoy the precious gift of sight your eyes give to you.
- Be Proactive In Your Health. Get your annual preventative exams even if you don’t have insurance. Our clinic offers a discount for patients who don’t have insurance. Give us a call and ask about pricing before you decide you can’t afford those preventative care visits. Taking care of your body means taking care of your eyes.
- Get Educated. Finally take the time to learn the ins and outs of your insurance benefits. You pay for them anyway, you might as well know and understand all that is offered to you through them. Find out whether or not your medical insurance will cover an eye exam. If so, at what co-pay? Do you have a vision plan associated with your insurance? If so, what is it called? What kind of coverage does it offer you? Can you purchase both glasses and contact lenses with it? Is the coverage annual or bi-annual? These are a few great questions about which to investigate and become educated. If you need guidance with it, give us a call, we’ll help you.
- Take Time To Get To Know Your Ancestors. Some vision problems are genetic and inherited from your ancestors. If you have the availability to learn about your family tree, learning about your family’s health patterns can greatly benefit you in your preventative care and treatments. You may be able to learn that glaucoma or macular degeneration runs in your family and is something you should watch for in your eye exams.
- Get Into Nature More. Fresh air is not only great for your heart and lungs, but for your eyes as well. Let your eyes soak up that fresh oxygen.
- Stop Procrastinating. When you know you need to do something, like schedule your annual eye exam, do it – pick up the phone and make that call right then and there. Procrastinating appointments, whether for your eyes or something else, can be costly to your health (and your bank account). If there are any health concerns, you want to catch them as soon as possible so treatment can begin as soon as possible.
- Come See Dr. Smith. You should get an eye exam and an updated prescription every year. Keeping your prescription up to date will help keep your eyes as comfortable and as happy as possible. Stop in or call and schedule your exam. We would love to see you!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.