Credit: Getty
3 min read
Give your eyes a little TLC with these expert tips for looking after your optical health.
Our eyes go through a lot on a daily basis. From focusing on screens for hours on end to dealing with everything from sun exposure to pollution, our eyes have to work hard to keep up with everything we need them to do.
But when it comes to taking care of our health, our eyes don’t tend to get much attention. In many ways, we take our eyesight for granted – and while that might be OK when we’re younger, our eyes need a little more TLC to function well as we age.
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The only problem? Because we don’t talk much about eye health, it can be hard to know how to keep eyes functioning at their best above and beyond ensuring we have regular eye tests.
So, to help you get started, we asked the experts for some top tips. From eating a balanced diet to practising the 20, 20, 20 technique, here’s what they had to say.
Be gentle with the skin around your eyes
When you’re trying to remove the last bits of mascara, it can be tempting to scrub your eyes with your cleanser. But doing so can lead to irritation – which is the opposite of good eye health.
“The skin around the eyes is very delicate and any product in your skincare routine should be suitable for the eyes,” explains Kyla Black, an optometrist and head of professional services at Boots Opticians.
“If you notice redness or dryness at the base of your lashes, seek advice from your optician,” she continues. “If you wear eye make-up it is recommended that this is removed before sleep.”
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Your diet can impact all areas of your health, including your eyes. Eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in eye-friendly nutrients can make a difference to your overall eye health.
“Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help to reduce your risk of eye disease,” explains Specsavers optometrist Dr Josie Forte. “Include lots of omega-3 fats from oily fish and lutein (found in dark-green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale) in your diet.”
Staying hydrated will also help to keep your eyes lubricated, which is necessary to keep the eyes moist and remove bacteria.
Wear sunglasses
Getting suncream in your eyes is painful, but you don’t want to leave your eyes unprotected. In this way, Black recommends wearing sunglasses when the sun is out.
“The eye structure is so much more sensitive to UV than your skin so sunglasses with UV protection to protect your eyes is essential,” she says.
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Exercise regularly
Perhaps surprisingly, moving your body can have a positive effect on your eye health.
“Exercising regularly is important for eye health,” Forte explains. “Growing evidence suggests that aerobic exercise can increase crucial oxygen supplies to the optic nerve and lower pressure in the eye.”
Use the 20, 20, 20 technique while working with a screen
We all know focusing on a screen for too long can be detrimental to our eye health; using the 20, 20, 20 technique can prevent eye strain and fatigue while allowing you to get your work done.
“Regular breaks are recommended when using VDU screens or digital devices,” Black explains. “I always recommend the 20, 20, 20 rule, where you take a break of at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes during which you look at something at least 20 feet away.”
Images: Getty
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