People that are age 19 to 40, usually enjoy healthy eyes and good vision. The most common eye and vision problems experienced by this age group are visual strain and/or eye injuries. It is important to maintain an optimal lifestyle that includes nurturing your eyes from stress and injury; by doing so you avoid many vision issues. Exams every 2 years is recommended by the American Optometric Association (AOA) unless there is a history of chronic disease or illness putting you at higher risk.
5 Tips Promoting Good Vision
1 Eat Healthy — Goal to eat at least 5 servings of vegetables each day. Eat only fruits that are in season. Choose foods rich in antioxidants especially leafy, green vegetables and fish.
2 Don’t Smoke — Smoking not only exposes eyes to a extreme amounts of levels of noxious chemicals, it contribute to advance aging including a higher risk for developing macular degeneration and cataracts. .
3 Exercise Regularly — Exercise, no excuse. Not only does it improve circulation, it increases oxygen to the eyes and aids in the removal of toxins.
4 Wear Sunglasses — You must protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays when outdoors. Invest in sunglasses with UV-A/B filtration.
5 Periodic Eye Examinations — Prevention, prevention and prevention…Usually, vision is stable during these years. Regular examinations of are essential to protect your eyes.
Coping with Daily Visual Stress
Eyestrain is a common occurrence in today’s visually demanding world no matter the circumstance… for college students or individuals in the work environments that include poor lighting, working distance, improper seating and coupled with long hours lead to fatigue and discomfort. Signs and symptom of eye strain include the following
• Sore or tired eyes
• Itching or burning sensations in the eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Dry or watery eyes
• Headaches
• Difficulty focusing
4 Simple Steps To Reduce Eyestrain At Work and Play:
• Workplace Adjustments
Place your computer monitor below eye level which makes you look slightly downward, easing strain on the eyes and neck.
• Proper Lighting
Essential to combat fatigue, and comfort-ability- if you are squinting, the lighting is too harsh. Using a shaded lamp the is adjustable is help.
• Rest Breaks
Throughout the day give your eyes a chance to rest. Take several minutes every hour to look away from the computer and allow your eyes to re-adjust. Consider standing up and walking around or doing alternate tasks that do not require extensive near focusing. Blink often to refresh the eyes and use artificial tear solutions, if necessary.
• Posture
Structure is function… sit up straight and use a chair that is adjustable.
STAT…
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports approximately 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related eye injuries requiring medical treatment each day. Amazing, more injuries to the eye result from misuse of products at home rather than on the job. Making a 60% of all product-related eye injuries occur in and around the home/Prevent Blindness America.
Protecting Your Eyes from the Sun
Think you are safe on an overcast day- NO. Harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage both the skin and the surface of the eye. Because the effects are cumulative, the sun can increase the risk of certain types of cataracts and cancers of the eyelids. 2 kinds of light, IVU and BLUE light have the potential to damage the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye, without it, you would be blind. Wear a hat and wear sunglasses frequently even when it is cloudy. Sunglasses should block mostly all the UV-A and B radiation and 75% and above visible light.
Ask Dr Pat…
