10 Ways to Take Care of Your Eyes Everyday

The eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of the body. If we don’t care for our eyes properly, eye problems such as impaired vision, conjunctivitis will occur…. Refer to the following article for proper eye care.

1. Rule 20-20-20

Working, frequent exposure to digital screens or computers will cause fatigue and dry eyes. The screens of digital devices are especially harmful to the eyes, and too much exposure can lead to visual impairment.

To improve this situation, follow the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes of work, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. In addition, the screen should be placed so that the center of the screen is lower than eye level, and the sitting posture is comfortable.

2. Always wear sunglasses

In addition to causing damage to the skin, UV rays are also very harmful to the eyes. Eyes exposed to direct sunlight for a long time can cause problems such as cataracts, corneal burns, even eyelid cancer. So regularly wear sunglasses when going out even when it’s cloudy to block 99% to 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays. In addition to sunglasses, you can also wear a wide-brimmed hat when going out in the sun to block UV-A, UV-B rays. 

In addition to wearing sunglasses, always use safety glasses when working or playing. Nearly half of eye injuries occur at work. Safety glasses can help prevent foreign objects, toxic substances from affecting the eyes. It is recommended to choose glasses made of polycarbonate plastic – to increase impact resistance more than 10 times compared to other materials.

3. Supplementing with adequate nutrients

Supplementing with foods that enhance blood circulation is very good for the eyes and vision. Choose foods like citrus fruits, whole grains, and dark green vegetables. Add foods rich in zinc such as peas, red meat, oysters, poultry to your diet.

Eat vegetables that help increase strength such as carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli … to provide vitamin A to help improve eyesight. Other nutrients that promote eye health include beta-carotene (found in yellow and orange fruits), lutein, and zeaxanthin.

4. Regular eye care

If your eyes are itchy or red, use eye drops to soothe them. If an object like sand enters the eye, rinse it with dilute saline or eye drops. If the eyes have symptoms such as: light sensitivity, pus discharge, frequent aches and pains, immediately go to a reputable eye clinic for examination and treatment. 

5. Correct use of contact lenses

If you use contact lenses, clean them regularly and wash your hands before using them. Note: Only clean contact lenses with specialized water. Clean, wash, and dry contact lenses after each use. Also, replace contact lenses every two to three months.

Do not wear contact lenses while swimming or in direct contact with detergents. Do not wear contact lenses for too long, do not wear glasses when sleeping (including napping).

6. Take care of your body’s health

Some diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes can affect eye health. These two diseases can reduce blood flow to the eyes. Immune system disorders in the lungs, thyroid gland, can also be a precursor to eye diseases.

Regularly take care of your body health, exercise more often, have a reasonable work and rest regime to avoid the above diseases. Also, you should consult an ophthalmologist if you have a history of diabetes or high blood pressure.

7. Correct use of medications

Certain medications when taken by mouth or when combined with other medications can affect vision. Please read carefully the side effects of the drugs before using them. See an eye doctor if you notice problems such as dry or watery eyes, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, etc. while using the medicine. 

8. Do not use old mascara

Liquid or cream cosmetics are a good environment for bacteria to grow. Therefore, you should not use cosmetics for too long, especially you should change your mascara every 3 months of use. If you have an eye infection, stop using eye makeup and see an ophthalmologist immediately for examination and treatment.

Regularly check the ingredients of eye makeup products, use a test on your wrist first to check if you are allergic to that cosmetic or not. Never share cosmetics with other people, when applying makeup, avoid getting cosmetics directly into the eyes.

9. Don’t smoke

Cigarette smoke increases your risk of developing cataracts and dries out your eyes…. Smoking also increases plaque buildup in blood vessels, weakening arteries, which can damage the retina and cause vision loss.

10. Regular eye exams

In addition to taking care of eye health, regular eye exams also help detect early signs of eye disease for timely treatment. Many eye diseases often have no obvious symptoms in their early stages. An example is a glaucoma, a common cause of vision loss in the elderly.

In the early stages of the disease, there is no pain, only when the impaired vision is detected, it is too late, because the vision that has been lost cannot be restored. Therefore, regularly visit a specialist eye hospital for regular eye exams once a year for people under 40 years old and twice a year for people over 40 years old.