Taking care of your eye health is just as important as caring for your body and overall health. Having regular eye examinations is just the beginning of looking after your eyes. Our equipment allows our optometrists to assess the health of the eye, monitoring the eye and detecting eye conditions in their earliest stages.

Whilst an eye examination is an incredibly important part of looking after the health of your eyes, there are several things you can do at home that will help keep your eyes healthy this winter.

Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are something you can experience at any time of year due to environmental factors, however they can be more prevalent during the winter months due to the combination of cold weather outside and central heating indoors. This combination can leave your eyes dehydrated and reduce tear production. There are two ways that you can help combat your dry eyes at home without needing to visit your opticians. It is advised to use lubricating eye drops when you feel your eyes are dry and sore. This will help rehydrated your eyes, leaving them feeling refreshed and reducing soreness. It is best for contact lens users to speak to their optometrist before using eyedrops to ensure they can be used with lenses. Another useful method of combatting dry eyes is by using a warming eye bag. The bag is placed over the eyes, and is used to help stimulate tear production, reducing your dry eyes. Not only is the warming eye bag an incredibly useful tool to have, but it is also very relaxing too!

UV Protection

One of the most important ways to look after your eyes is to protect them from UV. Although summer is well behind us, UV radiation is always present even on cloudy, cold days. The eye can absorb most of the UVA and UVB rays, however overexposure can contribute to degenerative eye conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma. The best way to protect your eyes from UV is with a pair of sunglasses which carry the CE mark or meet the British Standards for a safe level of protection from UV. The weather may be colder, but we do still have some sunny days and at this time of year the sun is lower in sky meaning it can often be dazzling when driving. Wearing sunglasses will help to reduce the glare from the sun and reflections from road surfaces when they are wet. Snow is also highly reflective, so if you are planning on visiting a snowy location over the winter ensure you wear a good quality pair of sunglasses that protect your eyes and the surface around them.

Nutrition

There are many benefits to eating a healthy, balanced diet, including for your eye health. Many fruits and vegetables contain several vitamins and nutrients that are incredibly beneficial to you eye health. Some of the best vegetables for your eye health are spinach, kale, and other leafy green vegetables. These contain lutein and zeaxanthin, powerful antioxidants that are though to help with reducing the progression of eye conditions such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. Other foods that are beneficial for your eyes are oily fish, which is high in Omega 3, fruits and berries and orange-coloured fruits and vegetables.

For more information about dry eyes, sunglasses or eye examinations please contact your local Bush Opticians today.