HOW TO MAKE YOUR FAMILY’S EYES A PRIORITY THIS YEAR

We know the drill: new year, new you. It’s time for a fresh start – but with a difference. This year, join us in maintaining your eye health all year through to December with this quick and easy guide. We’ve put together our top tips to keep your and your family’s eyes in tip-top shape.
Get outdoors!
Getting outside not only gives our eyes the needed break from screen time but sunlight has been known to reduce the occurrence of near-sightedness. An additional one hour of outdoor time per week will reduce the risk of myopia by 14 per cent.
So, no matter the season, get your family outdoors. Go for walks, sit in the sun, spend time with friends, go on hikes, picnics or just head to the park.
Remember the 20 – 20 – 20 rule.
Every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It’s as simple as that, but doing this will give your eyes a much-needed break. This is particularly important if you spend a lot of time on a digital device.
Don’t forget your sunnies!
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Sunglasses aren’t just a fashion statement. No matter the weather, if you’re heading outside into daylight, grab your sunnies. UV damage can lead to a permanent deterioration in the health of our eyes. Additionally, excessive exposure to UV can cause growths, both cancerous and non-cancerous, and cataracts. UV damage accumulates over time. So, protect your eyes from dangerous UV (and wild weather) by wearing sunglasses – particularly UV-protective sunglasses that wrap around. Pair it with your favourite hat for added protection.
Eat well to see well.
I’m sure we’re all striving to eat better this year. A healthy diet helps us stabilise our mood, feel great and see better. So this year, try thinking about what you can add to your diet instead of focusing on what you need to take away. For example, eating more fresh fruit such as berries, leafy greens like kale, spinach and lettuce, and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, nuts, and seeds will help you strengthen your eyes.
Move more
Aim to incorporate more movement into your daily life. Exercise is crucial to the health of our eyes as it circulates more oxygenated blood to them. As a result, it can reduce the incidences of diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. The exercise you do doesn’t have to be vigorous or intense; just aim to move a little more. For example, instead of driving down the road to the shops, consider saving yourself some petrol and walking. Additionally, try parking around the block instead of parking at the door. Something as simple as that will allow you to incorporate more movement into your daily life easily.
Stay hydrated
Drinking enough water not only prevents any symptoms of burning eyes, irritation and dryness but will also remove any toxins from the body that can contribute to the degeneration of our eye health. Moreover, our eyes have a tear film that sits on their surface. Staying hydrated will help maintain his film and protect our eyes from dryness. Blinking also helps revitalise that film, which would otherwise deteriorate and cause blurry vision and dry eyes. So, this year, don’t forget to drink and blink!
Keep up with your hygiene.
It’s important we protect our eyes by maintaining our hygiene standards. If you wear contacts, don’t forget to remove them every night and clean them with a contact solution. If you wear make-up, don’t forget to throw away expired make-up, use your own brushes and applicators and remove it every night before bed. For everyone else, avoid rubbing your eyes and don’t forget to wash your face at the end of every day.
Wear PPE
It can be easy to forget how vulnerable our eyes are to lifelong damage. A simple accident can result in both minor and significant injuries. Minor injuries, such as scratches on the eye, are not only annoying but can lead to something serious. Significant injuries, on the other hand, can have life-altering results, such as permanent blindness. So, if you’re in a high-risk profession, such as welding, mechanical engineering, building or working with chemicals, or about to take part in a high-risk sport, such as squash, field hockey or lacrosse, don’t forget your personal protective equipment. Face shields and safety glasses are critical for preventing orbital bone fractures, foreign objects entering the eye and retinal detachments.
Don’t forget to take it easy!
We may not always feel it, but like every other body part, our eyes get tired. So rest is crucial to the well-being of our eyes. Closing your eyes (and sleeping) allows your eyes and brain adequate time to relax and revitalise.
Get your eyes checked.
Eye exams are a great way to check the health of your eyes. It gives your optometrist the chance to alert you to possible eye diseases, ensure your prescription is correct and help you maintain the overall health of your eyes. During your check-up, your optometrist will also ask about your family’s eye health history. Many eye conditions, like macular degeneration and glaucoma, have a genetic link. Being aware and informing your medical professional allows us to screen for early warning signs and monitor your eye health more closely. Moreover, regular check-ups also give you the chance to pay attention to any changes in your vision. Taking the opportunity to purposefully check in on your health will help you manage and identify any problems.
Don’t forget eye exams are bulk billed through Medicare. So, take advantage of this and book an appointment for the family now