Ten tips for healthy eyes in 2022

Tip 1: Book an Eye exam

January is the perfect time to get all of your health exams out of the way. Start the year fresh and healthy by booking your annual eye exam. These exams can ensure you maintain healthy eyes, alert you to possible eye diseases, or ensure that your prescription is correct. This can save you in the long run, as early intervention can make a huge difference in eye health.

Tip 2: Wear sunglasses

This year, make it a point to wear UV protective sunglasses all year round. Just like your skin, UV rays can damage your eyes by accumulating over time. The damage can cause you to get cataracts earlier in life and increase the risk of rare eye cancers. Wearing UV protective sunglasses helps protect your eyes by blocking UV rays and weather such as wind to prevent irritation and dryness. So, in 2022 make it a habit to wear your sunglasses when you’re outside all year round.

Tip 3: Eat eye-healthy foods

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to eat cleaner. For most of us, the main motivation is to be healthier or attain a better body image. What if we told you that what you eat also affects your vision and overall eye health? Strive to eat fresh fruit, dark green vegetables and foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids such as cold-water fish like salmon and tuna to ensure you maintain optimal vision in 2022.

Tip 4: Limit the amount of time you wear contacts for

Contacts are a fantastic alternative to glasses, but they aren’t a permanent solution. Leaving contacts in for too long can take a toll on your eyes. Although contacts are a very safe option, they can still cause dry eyes and infections when worn for extended periods. So in 2022, make a conscious decision to limit the amount of time you wear contacts.

Tip 5: Take a break from screens

By far our favourite New Years Resolution; try to limit the amount of screen time you get every day. Not only is it a fantastic idea for your mental health, but limiting screen time also promotes eye health. Studies have found that focusing on a screen for too long reduces the number of times you blink per hour. This can cause your eyes to strain as your eye muscles become exhausted and your eyes dry out. So in 2022, try to utilise the 20/20/20 rule; every 20 minutes, look away from the screen at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Tip 6: Take care of your heart

This one may sound weird when talking about the eyes, but heart health directly affects eye health. This is because our heart pumps blood throughout our bodies vascular system – including the blood vessels in our eyes. Therefore, having high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels can increase the risk of eye diseases. So keep an eye on your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels to ensure a healthy heart and healthy eyes.

Tip 7: Quit smoking

Among the extensive list of health risks that comes with smoking is the risk of developing eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. It can also damage your retina and lead to loss of vision. This is because smoking causes plaque build-up in your bloodstream, weakening arteries and increasing the risk of heart attacks. So, in 2022, if you need the motivation to quit smoking, think of your eye health.

Tip 8: Wash your hands

If Covid-19 taught us anything, it’s to maintain good hand hygiene. So strive to keep up the practice in 2022 by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly. This is the most simple yet effective way to protect your eyes from infections – particularly if you wear contacts.

Tip 9: Clean out your make-up bag

If you wear make-up, you’ve probably kept products way past their use-by date at least once or twice before. We’ve all been there. But, make-up, particularly products used around your eyes, such as eyeliner or mascara, have a recommended use-by after opening. These products need to be replaced anywhere between six and 24 months after opening. This is because cosmetics can be a hotbed for germs and bacteria. So, come 2022, try to go through your make-up bag and replace any products that are past their prime.

Tip 10: Talk about eye health

Eye health is an important issue that is often not discussed. So, in 2022, take some to have an open discussion about eye health – such as family medical histories including hereditary eye conditions – with your friends and family to ensure everyone stays informed and healthy.

Follow our top ten tips to ensure you see clearly in 2022. For more information or to discuss your eye health contact us today.