Online Health Tips Health Blog
The spirit of the 1939 slogan, Keep Calm and Carry On, was intended to raise the morale of the British public at the time of the Second World War, encouraging them not to disrupt or neglect their daily routines.
When it comes to caring for our eyes, this is very good advice indeed and being mindful of what a precious commodity sight is it is important not to neglect the things that will keep your eyes healthy and in good condition. Here are a few tips on what to look out for:
Regular check-ups
Eyes change over time and this is why regular visits to the optician can make all the difference to eye care. Prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses also change and keeping up to date with these is important – if unsuitable lenses are being used this can further damage vision.
Limit screen time
The advent of onscreen technology has caused a surge in the amount of time people spend in front of a VDU. There are computers and laptops in every office, televisions in every home and smartphones and tablets carried on the person. Taking regular breaks at work is just as important as not sitting too close to the television at home, as is limiting the time spent peering at smaller screens.
Rest your eyes
As well as taking frequent screen breaks, try to spend a few minutes during a busy day in a quiet place with your eyes closed, breathing slowly. This will refresh your eyes as well as relax your body.
Get light right
Poor lighting conditions can cause damage to the eyes so ensuring that light levels are beneficial is very important. Light should be bright enough to see clearly, such as a soft light from a desk lamp to the side of a computer, but not so bright that it causes glare. Use blinds to shield bright sunlight and wear sunglasses when outside in very bright conditions.
Take care of contacts: a care guide for contact lenses
Wearers of contact lenses should be familiar with the best way to take care of them: lenses should be rinsed carefully every time they are taken out or put back in. Daily disposable contact lenses should be discarded after a day’s use and no attempt to reuse them should be made; this is unhygienic and unsafe.
Monthly disposable lenses can work for up to 30-days before being discarded and it is very important to cleanse them properly during this time. Use a proprietary solution designed for the purpose. Some are for soaking lenses in overnight; while others remove debris and protein build up when used for cleaning. There are also all-in-one lens solutions that combine both actions.
All disposable lenses should be bought from a reputable and trustworthy source, however, this does not have to be an optician – that can be an expensive way to source supplies. There are reliable online alternatives, such as last minute lenses, for those who suddenly realise they are on the last pair of lenses and need guaranteed next-day delivery.