Last week we celebrated National Eye Health Week. You may have seen posts on our social media with tips on how to keep those lovely peepers of yours nice and healthy so we thought we could amalgamate them all into one post.

This may seem an obvious one yet many people don’t realise that having regular check ups at the opticians is just as important as your dental check ups. Even if you think your eyes are fine and healthy some eye conditions like Glaucoma may not show noticeable symptoms so keeping up to date will help.

Another good reason to try and quit smoking. Smoking is directly linked as a cause of blindness. Current smokers are up to four times more likely to develop macular degeneration – which is the UK’s leading cause of blindness.

Although working at a computer won’t harm your eyes – and certainly won’t make them square – staring at a screen for long periods can cause screen fatigue. Not many people realise that you actually blink less when you look at screens and blinking helps keep the eye lubricated which is why you can experience dry, sore, itchy, tired eyes after staring at the screen for a long time. It is important to take regular breaks to give your eyes a rest.

You have heard the saying you are what you eat and it couldn’t be a truer statement. If we eat a bad diet we feel bad and it can be detrimental to our health. Ensuring you have a diet full of eye-friendly nutrients including green leafy vegetables, oily fish such as salmon, eggs, whole grains, chicken and citrus fruits can be beneficial to your eyesight and there are enough varieties across the board that whether you eat meat or a vegan you can still provide the right nutrients for your body. Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and vitamins C and E can help in the prevention of age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts.

Don’t be too proud to admit that you are struggling with your vision. We understand that some people don’t like any kind of medical examination or the thought of having to wear glasses may put you off but we are very understanding and helpful and will take our time to help with whatever worry you may have.

Taking some time to play in the fresh air can be so helpful to your sight. There is emerging evidence that spending two hours or more outside a day can reduce the risk of myopia, even if there is a family history of the condition. If it is sunny outside or if you are somewhere with high glare such as snow or water make sure you protect your eyes. Cumulative UV exposure can increase your risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. When buying sunglasses look for the CE, UV 400 or British Standard marks as this ensures they provide a safe level of protection from the sun’s damaging UV rays.

If you have any questions at all or would like any more information just pop in to see us, we are more than happy to help.