The New Year has finally arrived! The festivities were a lot of fun, but now it’s time to turn to your resolutions. A lot of those resolutions focus around health, but one aspect is often overlooked: eye health.
In fact, according to a survey by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society¹, 76% of respondents are concerned about their eye care, which is great. Here is the problem: many are unfamiliar with an array of factors related to the health of their eyes, like their environment and lifestyle.
Thankfully, there are many ways to improve eye health. Incorporating simple habits in your routine to maintain your eye health can be easy to do. From adopting healthy lifestyle choices to simply wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s effects.
Quick and easy tips to integrate in your routine
- Wear sunglasses
- Apply the 20-20-20 rule
- The right glasses for you
- Give your eyes a rest if you're a contact lens wearer
- Eat well for healthy eyes
- Keep your eyes hydrated
- The unavoidable rules when wearing makeup
- Clean your makeup brushes well to avoid bacteria around the eyes
- Take regular eye exams
1. Wear sunglasses
Protecting your eyes from UV light is crucial to avoid harmful effects on your eyes. This is even more important during the winter considering the sun reflecting off the snow! Your optician can also help you to choose the frame that fits your face best. Accessorizing your look + taking care of your eyes = win win!
2. Apply the 20-20-20 rule
With people working from home more and spending a lot more time in front of a computer or digital device, the 20-20-20 rule will help give your eyes a break. Every 20 minutes spent using a screen, try to look away at something that is 20 feet away from you for a total of 20 seconds.
3. The right glasses for you
Avoid headaches, neck aches and visual fatigue with the right choice of lenses that meet your needs. Whether it's blue light protection, proximity lenses that optimize visual comfort at work (near and intermediate vision) or our relax lenses that reduce eyestrain, let our specialists provide their recommendations according to your needs.
4. Give your eyes a rest if you're contact lens wearer
For better oxygenation of the cornea of your eyes and better visual health, give your eyes at least one day of rest per week and follow your eye health provider’s recommendations.
5. Eat well for healthy eyes
Taking care of your eyes also involves what you eat! A healthy diet reduces the risk of age-related visual problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. So pamper your vision with foods rich in vitamins A, C, D and E, as well as zinc and omega-3.
6. Keep your eyes hydrated, it's essential
Your eyes need hydration to stay healthy. Many factors can dry them out on a daily basis: heating, pollution, certain illnesses, smoke and more! Get into the habit of blinking regularly and, in the event of dry eyes, use lubricating drops and consult an optometrist if the problem persists.
7. The unavoidable rules when wearing makeup
If you wear makeup, remember to change your mascara every 3-6 months maximum. Always remove your makeup before going to bed and use one pad per eye to prevent bacteria from moving from one eye to another.
8. Clean your makeup brushes well to avoid bacteria around the eyes
Place a small amount of mild shampoo and water in the palm of your hand and rub each brush in small circular motions and rinse. Repeat until the brushes are free of shampoo. Let them air dry flat.
9. Take regular eye exams
To ensure that you maintain healthy eyes, regular eye exams are recommended. The frequency of an eye exam recommended by an optometrists, will vary depending on your age and health, but it is recommended to book an appointment at least every two years.
Don’t be shortsighted when it comes to your eye health. Check out our blog articles for more tips, and book an appointment with an optometrist for an eye exam today to protect your eye health.
¹New survey reveals Canadians short sighted when it comes to their eye health, Canadian Ophtalmology Society, August 3, 2021.
