Do This Now If You Want Healthy Eyes Later

About 36.5 million Americans currently have a major eye disease, while another 150 million have a refractive error. While you can’t avoid all eye issues — some risk factors are out of your control — there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of serious eye disease. 

Here are six things to do now if you want healthy eyes later, courtesy of Dr. Debbie Simon, Dr. Emily Davis, and Dr. Romaya Ahmed here at Eye Q Optique.

1. Schedule regular eye exams

Scheduling regular eye exams is one of the most important things you can do for your eye health. Even if you don’t currently wear glasses or contact lenses, an eye exam can detect early signs of conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration — often before you notice any symptoms. 

Because these conditions can steal your vision, routine eye exams can help spot the earliest signs of these conditions. The earlier you start treatment for conditions like these, the better chance you have of preserving your vision.

2. Wear protective glasses 

Eye protection includes:

Sunglasses

You protect your skin from the sun with sunscreen so why not protect your eyes, too? Excessive UV exposure can increase your risk of several eye conditions, including ocular melanoma, cataracts, and pterygium. 

Wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays whenever you’re outside, even on cloudy days. Baseball caps and wide-brimmed hats can add additional sun protection.

Ski goggles

The need for sun protection isn’t limited to the summer months either. Wear your sunglasses all year long, and that includes if you spend any time skiing this winter! Not only do sunglasses prevent the dangers of UV rays, but wearing them on the slopes can help prevent snow blindness.

Safety glasses

Get in the habit of wearing safety glasses anytime you’re engaged in a high-risk activity. This includes construction work, racquetball, or yard work (especially when weed whacking). 

Here at Eye Q Optique, we feel strongly about eye protection. That’s why we offer a variety of high-quality, progression safety glasses with several available options, including anti-glare coatings, padded safety frames, and progressive lenses.

3. Eat nutrient-dense foods

What you eat fuels your body, and that also includes your eyes. Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E support good vision and help reduce your risk of age-related eye issues. 

Consider adding cold water fish (e.g., salmon or mackerel), dark leafy greens, chia seeds, walnuts, carrots, and raw red bell peppers to your diet. 

4. Practice the 20-20-20 rule

Do you find that working for hours on the computer leaves your eyes dry, achy, and red? This is known as computer eye syndrome, eye fatigue, or digital eye syndrome. Whatever you want to call it, the result is the same — eyes that just don’t feel quite 100%. 

You can use the 20-20-20 to help combat this. The rule is straightforward and can be easily added to even the busiest of days: Every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This gives your eyes a break and helps prevent fatigue.

In addition to practicing this rule, you might also consider wearing blue-light-blocking glasses while you work on the computer. 

You can also prevent eye strain by adjusting your computer so there’s no glare, using an ergonomic set-up, lighting your room well to prevent squinting, and keeping your monitor at eye level.

5. Quit smoking

If you smoke, you’re three times as likely to develop cataracts and twice as likely to develop macular degeneration when compared to nonsmokers — not to mention all of the other ways that smoking compromises your health!

Quitting smoking — or never starting — is one of the best things you can do for your health, including your eyes.

If you’re considering smoking cessation, the Illinois Tobacco Quitline provides resources for quitting. 

6. Practice good hygiene 

Touching your eyes can quickly transfer bacteria or viruses to your eyes. Not only does this increase your risk of developing a bacterial or viral illness, it also increases your risk of developing an eye infection.

Good eye hygiene includes:

• Washing your hands before inserting or removing contacts

• Cleaning your contact case regularly 

• Refraining from sleeping in contacts and wearing them only as directed 

• Clean your makeup brushes regularly (and never share makeup products)

• Remove makeup nightly

Don’t wait — start taking care of your eyes now for a lifetime of good vision. If you need to schedule an eye exam or if you have questions about a current condition, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call either office — Chicago or Buffalo Grove, Illinois —  or click here to get started.