5 Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy

When we think of taking care of our overall wellbeing, we think often think of eating healthy, exercising, and going to our annual wellness exam, but not so much about the health of our eyes. It’s easy to forget about taking steps in keeping our eyes healthy throughout our lives.

Protecting your eyes is one of the most critical things you can do to maintain the quality of your life. Here are some tips to follow to keep those eyes healthy…

Eat Well

There is growing evidence that foods rich in vitamins and minerals can help protect your eyes and keep them healthy. Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin C and E can help combat age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts. Foods such as green leafy vegetables, blueberries, carrots, bell peppers, salmon and tuna, nuts and beans, and citrus are great to add to your plate.

Wear shades and safety eyewear

As we venture outside more as the weather gets warmer, don’t forget to grab your shades. Wearing sunglasses helps prevent damaging your eye from UV rays from the sun, plus you’ll look cool in the process . When you buy sunglasses, be sure to pick out ones that block 99-100% of UV-A and UB-A rays, which can protect your retina and prevent your eyes from getting cataracts.

Do you like to do a lot of DIY housework? According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2.5 million eye injuries occur in the United States from activities such as sports and home projects. Be sure to invest in some protective eyewear such as glasses or goggles. Eyewear that will be flush to your face will provide the best protection.

Screen breaks

There is a good chance you stare at a screen for a good part of your day. From your computer at work to staring at your phone in the evenings, the nonstop screen time can be hard on your eyes, not to mention strain on your head and neck! When we look at our screens, we blink less, which causes our eyes to dry out and to get blurry. Not to mention the glare and flickering from the screen can be quite damaging to the eyes.

While you may not be able to cut your screen time, you can follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This can give your eyes a much-needed break and prevent them from getting too dry.

Other steps you can do to help your eyes is to make sure your computer is at least 25 inches (about an arm’s length) away from you and check the lighting in the room you work in. Make sure the brightness of your device is not brighter than the surrounding areas.

Take care of your contacts

It is easy to forget to clean your contacts property, not disposing them on time, or falling asleep with them in. But not properly caring for your contacts can scratch your eyes or give you an eye infection. Be sure to follow your contact schedule and set reminders if you forget. When you take a shower or go swimming, take out your contacts to avoid infection. Follow directions from your doctor and lens manufacturer to ensure proper care. When you take out your contacts, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry them with a clean towel.

Go to your free WellVision Exam

As a Friday Health Plan member, you get a free annual WellVision Exam. Your eye doctor will do standard visual acuity test and look for eye muscle imbalance, vision disorders, and eye disease that could potentially cause future problems. Based on the results, the eye doctor may recommend further testing and refer you to an ophthalmologist. Find an eye doctor near you at vsp.com.

As always, if you have questions about your plan, benefits, or services, please reach out to our friendly Colorado-based customer service team: questions@fridayhealthplans.com or 800-475-8466.

 

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