Our Top 5 Eye Health Tips

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With National Eye Health Week beginning on 23rd September, what better time to make sure you’re looking after your eyes and your family’s? Here are 5 tips from our optometrists for keeping your eyes healthy and preventing common eye problems.

Eat and drink right

Certain foods are better for your eyes than others. Foods that are high in lutein, such as eggs, kale, and other green and yellow vegetables are particularly good sources of this eye-friendly antioxidant. It’s also important to make sure you stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, and if you’re experiencing dry eyes, talk to our opticians in Tamworth and Coleshill.

Check your family tree

There is a reason why medical experts often ask about your family medical history – some conditions and diseases that directly affect your eyes run in families, including diabetes, glaucoma and macular degeneration, so it’s good to know what to look out for.

Look away from the screen

We all seem to be glued to a screen these days, whether it’s a phone, computer or TV. Do your eyes a big favour and look away now and again. Looking into the distance for 20 seconds every 20 minutes can make a difference, and you should also take a 15-minute break from the screen every 2 hours.

Keep those sunglasses on

 

You might feel like summer has deserted us, but even though it might not feel as warm as it did in July, it’s still important to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, even when it’s overcast. Keep those sunglasses on during bright days.

Regular eye tests

When was your last eye test? Making sure you and your family have regular eye exams is one of the best things you can do for your eyes. Common eye problems such as lazy eye (amblyopia) and eye turns (squints) can be picked up in children during eye tests, and our optometrists can recommend a behavioural optometry assessment if they feel it would help, to help alleviate associated symptoms.

Book an appointment with our opticians in Tamworth and Coleshill, and make sure your family’s eyes stay as healthy as can be!