Daily Tips for Good Eye Health
Gordon Wong Eye Designs & Optometry is a comprehensive eye care clinic that offers services to help patients maintain good eye health and clear vision. Professional eye care, such as comprehensive eye exams, is vital to diagnosing any potential eye problems early so that treatment can be administered before the condition progresses to the point of vision loss.
While professional eye care should be a priority for all patients, it is also important that patients take steps at home to maintain the health of their eyes. Here, we offer some daily tips for good eye health that our La Jolla, CA patients can rely on to optimize eye health and minimize the risk of common eye diseases.
Maintain a Diet Rich in Nutrients
Nutrients play a key role in overall body health. More specifically, there are certain nutrients that are known to promote healthy eyes and good vision. By choosing foods that are rich in these nutrients, patients can promote overall eye wellness. Following are some of the most important nutrients for the eyes:
- Lutein: Lutein is an antioxidant naturally found in the eyes. It protects the eyes from sun damage and pollutants. Good sources of lutein include dark, leafy greens, like spinach and kale.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C is another powerful antioxidant. It promotes the health of the connective tissues and collagen in the eyes. Good sources of Vitamin C include citrus fruits, brussels sprouts, and strawberries.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E works along with Vitamin C to keep eye tissues strong. Vitamin E can be found in foods such as seeds, nuts, and vegetable oil.
- Zinc: Zinc helps keep the retinas healthy. Foods that are high in zinc include turkey, oysters, eggs, and peanuts.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids keep cells healthy and fight off inflammation. Fish are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
Wear Sunglasses
Most people take precautions to limit their skin’s exposure to the sun’s harsh UV rays, because they know it can cause burns and skin damage. These UV rays can be just as damaging to the eyes. Prolonged exposure to UV rays is one of the leading contributors to eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Sunglasses should be worn whenever a person will be in the sun, as they block out harmful UV rays.
Refrain from Smoking
Smoking is a habit that is harmful in many ways. The use of tobacco products has been linked to multiple diseases, including those that affect the eyes.
In addition to increasing the risk of conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration, smoking can also cause optic nerve damage. Individuals who do smoke should quit to minimize the risk of eye damage.
Minimize Screen Time
In this digital era, it is difficult to avoid backlit screens; they are on our phones, computers, and TVs. Unfortunately, these screens can cause eye strain, dry eyes, and blurry vision.
While it may not be realistic to avoid screen time altogether, it is a good idea to limit screen time and take frequent breaks. A good rule of thumb is to rest the eyes every 20 minutes. To do so, individuals should look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
Contact Us
Professional eye care services are an important complement to the abovementioned healthy eye habits. If you are due for a routine eye exam, or would like to learn more about the comprehensive range of services offered at Gordon Wong Eye Designs & Optometry, contact us at your earliest convenience.