UNDERSTANDING Healthy Eyes

You may not realize how much strain is put on your eyes each day. Whether you clock long hours in front of a screen or you prefer exploring the outdoors until sundown, it’s important to protect your eyes. Show your eyes the respect they deserve — from heaping on the greens to setting a digital curfew. Your eyes will thank you! 

SUN EXPOSURE

Sun Protection 101: We all know moderation is key when it comes to sun exposure! Harmful UV rays can wreak havoc on our skin, causing early aging and even skin cancers like melanoma. From an early age, we’re told to lather on the sunscreen. But, did you know you also need to protect your eyes from the sun?

How to Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays

Invest in a quality pair of sunglasses and contact lenses that have UV protection. Make sure to wear a wide-brimmed hat to help shield your eyes from light that comes in from the side of your sunglasses. The sun is strong…and sneaky. Ultraviolet rays can damage your eyes even on cloudy days.

NUTRITION

A diet rich in nutrients can help reduce your risk of certain eye conditions. More good reasons to pass the veggies, please. 

Nutrition for Eye Health

Foods that are loaded with antioxidants (Vitamin A, C, E) can help to reduce your risk of some potentially serious chronic eye conditions: cataracts and macular degeneration.

Think: Color. Carotenoids pack a powerful punch when it comes to foods for eye health. Kiwi, red grapes, spinach, and carrots are beneficial in helping prevent vision damage later in life. Maybe mom was right.

Omega-3 fatty acids benefit our bodies and our vision. Our bodies don’t produce it naturally, so add some salmon or tuna to your diet today. Not a fish fan? Try walnuts or chia seeds.

DIGITAL SCREEN USAGE

Do you reply to texts and emails at all hours? Suffer from “fear of missing out” when checking your friends’ social media updates? It’s a lot of work for your eyes to focus and refocus on small text and images, and it can cause eye strain and discomfort. People who use their computers a lot can develop eye dryness, difficulty focusing, headaches, and blurred or double vision. This is often known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). 

Protect Your Eyes

Today’s technology offers us little relief from our screens, but there are a few tips to help keep your eyes happier. Make sure to follow the 20-20-20 rule to give your eyes a break: look 20 feet away for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes. Also, keep your computer screen 20 to 28 inches away from your face and slightly below eye level. And always remember to blink! If you need vision correction, schedule an appointment with your eye care professional.

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Remarque : des frais peuvent s’appliquer à votre examen ophtalmologique et à la pose de votre première paire de lentilles de contact. Réservé aux résidents belges de 18 et plus. Un essai par personne. Offre soumise à l’autorisation de l’ophtalmologiste/opticien. Opticiens et ophtalmologistes participants seulement. Reportez-vous à l’ensemble des conditions de participation [lien].