PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR YOUR EYES

Often times we neglect the importance of having a clear vision… to see life perfectly. Here are some of the things you can do to help maintain good health of your eyes.

1. Protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays. It has been said that our ozone layer is quite thin and so exposing us even more to the harmful UV rays. Prolonged exposure of UV A can damage our eye known as macular degeneration such that we are not to look directly to the sun. Likewise, cumulative exposure to UV B causes cataracts. So be sure to get sunglasses with 100% UV protection as they help block these harmful rays. The use of wide-brimmed hat is also recommended especially when outdoors in high glare areas like the beach.
2. Wear protective eyewear during work and sporting events. Any activity exposing your eyes to flying particles also risks you to damaging your eye. From a simple gesture of trying to thrust a nail to the operation of machinery and working around construction and manufacturing requires you to wear clear plastic protective eyewear. 

3. Eat healthy foods. Carrots are good source of Vitamin A which is good for the eyes. Green leafy vegetables like kale, collard and mustard greens, and spinach are also good for the eyes because they contain lutein, which studies indicate can reverse symptoms of macular degeneration. Also, getting plenty of omega-3 fatty acids from fish help prevent dry eyes.
4. Take frequent breaks from doing any near activity requiring prolonged staring. Working with computers or PDAs can lead to eye strain and dry eyes because of staring. Ideally, the monitor should be lower than your line of sight to have a healthy blink rate. Also, rest your eyes every 20-30 minutes of near work by looking at distance for at least 20 seconds.
5. Have a regular eye examination. Visiting your eye doctor regularly is essential to maintaining healthy eyes as some vision problems can be prevented with early detection. It is recommended that the first eye exam should be at least before 6 years old, unless parents noticed vision problems prior to 6 years of age; then at least every 2 years during school age; then every year at the age of 40 onwards especially those with hereditary eye problems.

For those who are already wearing eyeglasses, a yearly eye examination is recommended. While contact lens wearers are recommended to have follow up visits at least every 6 months, unless recommended otherwise by their optometrist.

How can you tell if you need glasses?

Realizing that you need corrective lenses may not come easily for a lot of people; it sometimes takes weeks of squinting before you figure out that you should see a doctor.

This is the most telltale sign: Everything is a blur. If you're having a hard time seeing things far away, you have myopia, or are nearsighted. This means your eyeball is too long and affects how images appear in your eye. Watching a movie or seeing roadsigns are difficult, or even impossible, when you are nearsighted.

The opposite of this is hyperopia, which is also known as farsightedness. This means that your cornea is too flat, or the eyeball is too short, which makes it difficult to focus on objects that go nearer the eye. Reading is especially a challenge when you are farsighted.
Having a hard time seeing at night is also a sign that you need to get your eyes checked and corrected. Feeling that your eyes are overtired all the time is another sign, even if it seems not to have anything to do with seeing clearly. But it may be connected as eye fatigue can be caused by straining your eyes subconsciously to see properly.

Noticing that you've been getting more headaches lately is another important sign you must consider, as well as how painful these headaches have become.

As children will be less likely to figure out that there is a problem with their eyesight, you can find these signs for them. Take special notice if your child is constantly holding things close to their eyes to scrutinize them or to read even the large lettering. Observe them when they watch TV - are they sitting too close to the set? Do you notice if they're squinting all the time?

Of course, the best way to find out if you need corrective lenses is to go and get your eyes checked. If you are experiencing any of these signs, or notice them in your son or daughter, it's time for a trip to the eye doctor, preferably today.