Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show your love and appreciation to those you care about the most. But it’s also an excellent opportunity to pamper oneself, so why not start with your eyes?
Practice these 10 healthy lifestyle habits to help protect your eye health and vision.
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day will keep your body hydrated and your eyes moist — which is essential for preventing dry eye syndrome. To add some flavor to your water, try adding a splash of lemon juice or swap some of those glasses of water for an herbal tea or other non-caffeinated beverage. Caffeinated drinks have a dehydrating effect, so try to limit your coffee consumption as much as possible.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise is widely known for its physical and mental health benefits, but studies show that it can also lower your risk of serious eye conditions and diseases. Cardio exercise in particular has been shown to lower eye pressure and improve blood flow to the retina and optic nerve at the back of the eye. So grab your gym bag and get moving!
Practice Good Makeup Hygiene
While wearing makeup can accentuate your eyes and make you feel more beautiful, it’s important to note that if not used properly, certain makeup products can adversely affect eye health.
To keep your eyes and vision healthy, make sure to:
- Clean your brushes and applicators regularly
- Toss any expired products, or eye makeup you’ve used during an eye infection
- Only apply makeup to the outer margin of your eyelids
- Remove your makeup before going to bed
- Never share makeup or use in-store testers
Following these safety tips will help to lower your risk of eye infections and other serious complications.
Learn First Aid for Eye Injuries
Let’s be real, accidents can happen even if we take all the right measures to protect ourselves. But knowing what to do in case of an unexpected eye injury can potentially save you or someone you love from permanent eye damage or vision loss.
Visit Your Eye Doctor
Regular eye exams are crucial when it comes to maintaining your eye health. With an eye exam, your eye doctor can identify early signs of sight-threatening eye diseases and conditions — enabling earlier treatment and increasing your chances for optimal results.
Be Mindful of The Food You Eat
Fill your plate with fresh fruits and veggies, lean proteins and whole grains. A well-balanced diet is good for your body and can lower your risk of eye disease.
Studies show that foods high in vitamins A, C, E, Omega-3, lutein and zeaxanthin are especially beneficial for promoting eye health.
Don’t Smoke
If you’ve been thinking about quitting, there’s no better time than now. Smoking tobacco significantly raises your risk of developing sight-threatening eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and can also lead to their early development.
Smoking also robs the body of the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to maintain eye health and contains around 7,000 chemicals that can lead to eye irritation and dry eye.
Wear Sunglasses
Studies show that prolonged UV exposure can damage the eyes and lead to the development of sight-threatening eye conditions, like cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma, in the future.
Purchase a pair of stylish sunglasses with 100% UV protection and wear them any time you venture outdoors — the sun’s UV rays can penetrate the clouds and reflect off of snow, sand, water, and pavement. So keep a pair of sunglasses next to your front door and a spare pair in your bag or car to ensure you have UV protection wherever you go.
Prevent Eye Injuries
About 90% of vision loss from eye injuries can be prevented by wearing the right eye protection.
Protective eyewear like sports goggles or glasses with polycarbonate lenses are designed with sturdy materials that are less likely to break or shatter while you play sports and can protect your eyes from small particles that fly in the air when you mow the lawn or engage in DIY projects.
Irving is the Chief Editor at the Landscape Insight. He lives just outside of New York. His writings have also been featured in some very famous magazines. When he isn’t reading the source material for a piece or decompressing with a comfort horror movie, Irving is usually somewhere in his car. You can reach Irving at – [email protected] or on Our website Contact Us Page.
