Top Ten Tips for Your Eye Health in 2018

As 2017 draws to an end, we know what you’re thinking… Why didn’t you stick to your New Year’s resolution of hitting the gym every day? Or maybe it was to take better care of your health? Perhaps your goal for this year was to watch less Netflix and do some more reading? Whatever it was, it’s a little too late for 2017s resolutions now. But, behold! There IS hope! 2018 is just around the corner and you can make it a successful one.

So, to make things easier for you, we’ve written down our top ten tips to help you get healthy, glowing eyes by the end of 2018 and perhaps this time, next year, you’ll have something worth showing off about!

EAT RIGHT

Believe it or not, healthy eating does equate to healthy eyes (amongst many other things!) So, ditch those burgers and get the kale out. No, but, seriously. Everything in moderation is the key!

PROTECT YOUR EYES

Do you know how difficult it is to wear protective eyewear when you’re out in the sun or doing active sports? No. Neither do we. Do it. Please. At just4specs, we have a wide collection of sunglasses and sports eyewear to make sure you – and your eyes – stay safe, whatever the circumstance!

QUIT SMOKING

…Or better still, don’t ever start! A lot of research has gone into whether smoking affects other health areas other than the lungs and throat and the answer is a big YES. Research shows smoking leads to an increased risk of developing macular degeneration, cataract and/or optic nerve damage. Plus, think of all that money you’ll be saving.

Can we get a KER-CHING!

GIVE YOUR EYES A REST

Digital eye strain is a real thing and many of our patients come in to say that they experience symptoms of headaches, nausea and sometimes fatigue just from staring at their phones or laptop screens too much. So do yourself a favour and give your eyes a rest every so often. If your work requires you to stare at a screen or device all day, try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look around 20 feet away for about 20 seconds.

HYGIENE

Before touching your eyes, putting in contact lenses or generally touching your face, please make sure your hands are clean. When putting in contact lenses, you should always wash and dry your hands. Bacteria in your hands can lead to infection so to avoid any unnecessary issues, make sure your hygiene is impeccable!

CUCUMBER

If you’re reading this – we already KNOW – you’re a go-getter wanting to get ahead for 2018 which spells out lack of sleep. A little tip is to take a cucumber and keep it refrigerated. When that dreaded alarm goes off in the morning, cut two slices of the cucumber and place them onto your eyes for 10-15 minutes. The cucumbers aid in de-puffing your eyes as well as reducing the appearance of dark circles.

IT’S ALL ABOUT LIGHT

Shout out to all you avid readers who still love the look and feel (and smell) of an actual book with actual pages. None of this Kindle nonsense. But however you read, make sure when you’re reading, you have a well-lit room and you are under a brighter light so as not to squint. Imagine getting to page 632 and not knowing who the killer is because you’ve squinted yourself into bifocals.

BLINK, BABY. BLINK!

Research shows that when someone is staring at a computer screen or a phone, they naturally blink less which causes symptoms of dry eye. Make sure you consciously remind yourself to blink as you normally would to avoid dryness of the eye socket.

GET YOUR ZZZ’s RIGHT

There’s a whole buzz out there of new restaurants to go to, new bars opening up and new shows at the theatre and we know you’re all suffering from a severe bout of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out to the uninitiated!) but getting appropriate rest is key in the health of your eyes. Making sure you get 7-8 hours of sleep per night is imperative and even if you can’t do this every night, make it a point that you’ll adhere to this rule for at least most nights during the week.

CAN SOMEBODY CALL A DOCTOR?

Yep, you got it! Make sure you keep that annual or bi-annual appointment with your eye doctor to ensure your eyes are in good health. With the latest technological advancements, opticians are able to detect issues in your eyes way before you experience any symptoms so regular eye exams are crucial.

So, there you have it! If you are looking for an optician or simply want to discuss the health of your eyes with one of our experts, please call us today on 020 7272 1506 or click here to book an appointment

We wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!