Care for Eye Health - The eye is one of the most important sensory organs for humans. Maintaining eye health can prevent you from the risk of eye disease and vision loss. Here are some things you can do to maintain eye health.
Routine Eye Checks
Everyone, from children to the elderly, is recommended to have their eyes checked by an ophthalmologist at least every 2 years. Routine eye examinations can detect eye problems early due to certain diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Adults who are over 40 years old are even advised to have their eyes checked once a year. This is useful for preventing eye diseases associated with aging, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts. Meanwhile, children should be examined, at least every two years, to detect vision problems that may affect their learning ability. Children do not need to be able to read to do an eye exam.
Also find out the eye health history in the family. Why? Because many eye diseases or problems are passed genetically from parent to child. With a doctor's eye examination, various eye diseases and symptoms can be detected early. The treatment will certainly be easier.
Eating Nutritious Foods
Research shows that a healthy diet containing a variety of nutrients, such as vitamins A, C and E, zinc, lutein, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids, can help ward off age-related eye problems, such as cataracts and macular degeneration. These various nutrients can be obtained by eating green leafy vegetables, salmon, tuna, eggs, nuts, and oranges.
Do not stare at the electronic screen for too long
Staring at a computer or smartphone screen for too long can cause eye fatigue. Symptoms can include headaches, neck pain, pain in the shoulders and back, dry and tense eyes, difficulty focusing on staring at a distance, and blurred vision. If you work at a computer all day, every 20 minutes, look away 6 meters away for 20 seconds, to reduce eye strain. Or you can also rest your eyes for 15 minutes every 2 hours. If your eyes feel dry, blink frequently.
Wearing sunglasses
Not only does the skin need to be protected from the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays, the eyes also need to. Eyes that are too frequently exposed to ultraviolet light can develop cataracts, macular degeneration, corneal burns, and even eye cancer. Therefore, wear sunglasses that can block UVA and UVB rays, and wear a hat when going out during the day.
Do not smoke
Smoking can increase the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and damage to the optic nerve, which can cause blindness and damage the retina. Smoking also causes plaque buildup in the blood vessels and weakens the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack.
Removing Old Makeup
In liquid or cream eye makeup, bacteria can grow easily. Throw away and replace your makeup after 3 months of use. Always remember not to borrow and lend makeup to and from others. And make sure to wash your face thoroughly before and after applying makeup. If you experience eye irritation or infection while wearing makeup, remove makeup and consult a doctor immediately.
Exercise diligently
Research reveals that exercise can reduce the risk of vision loss due to high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
How to maintain eye health can also be done by not ignoring various eye problems. If you feel like grit in your eyes, rinse with clean water. If your eyes feel itchy or look red, treat them with eye drops or cold compresses.
Immediately consult an ophthalmologist if eye complaints persist, or if your eyes are sore, swollen, sensitive to light, such as dark spots floating when you look, or if you have vision problems