Protect Your Eyes at Work: Top Tips

Many people overlook many things that are important to their eye health. Some oversights, including everyday lifestyle decisions, can end up taking a toll on your vision. Here are a few tips on some of the changes you can make to safeguard your eyesight.

 

Wear Appropriate Protective Eyewear

If your job involves spending most of the day outside, you need to wear sunglasses. Sunglasses are protective eyewear that prevents damage to your eyes from high-energy visible light and sunlight. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from staying outside or driving during the day can cause sunburn to your eyes, macular degeneration due to age (AMD), and cataracts.

 

If your job requires eye protection, always wear safety goggles or protective eyewear when in the working area.

 

Healthy Eating Habits

The food that you eat goes a long way in affecting the health of your eyes. Nutrients in your food help ward off some visual ailments. For instance, eating seafood with Omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of cataracts, dry eyes, and other eye diseases, such as AMD. Some of these kinds of seafood include cold-water sardines, salmon, mackerel, and tuna. If you dislike seafood, you can take fish oil supplements, flaxseed oils, or black current seeds.

 

Drinking green tea keeps your eyes healthy. This is because green tea contains antioxidants that defend against the development of AMD and cataracts. Eating leafy green vegetables also helps prevent some eye ailments since they contain zeaxanthin and lutein. Add green vegetables like peas, kale, spinach, zucchini, avocados, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts to your diet.

 

Avoid Computer Vision Syndrome

If your job involves long hours in front of a screen, you may experience eyestrain from computer vision syndrome. This is because of the glare coming from the computer screens. To curb this, sit an arm’s length away from your computer and always keep any handheld devices approximately sixteen inches from your eyes.

 

Another way to avoid glare from the screen is by adjusting the display settings of your computer. Reducing the brightness to fit your office surroundings is a good idea. You can also reduce the color temperature and increase the font to reduce strain on your eyes. Increase your blinking rate to ensure that your eyes receive enough lubrication.

 

Dispose of Old Makeup

If you experience any irritation when using any eye makeup, stop using it immediately. If you use mascara over four months old, dispose of it. Keep your eyeliner pencils sharp and be careful not to put them inside your eyelids. If you use contact lenses, wash your hands before removing or inserting them. Do not use any other substance apart from your contact lens solution to store your contacts.

 

Regular Eye Checkups

To catch any eye ailments early, it is advisable to visit your eye doctor at least once every year. This is not only good for your eyes but your whole body, as well. Annual eye examinations can detect early-onset diabetes, brain tumors, cardiovascular diseases, aneurysms, multiple sclerosis, and others.

 

Learn more about how to protect your eyes at work, contact City Eyes Optometry in Sherman Oaks, California at (818) 960-1300 to book an appointment today.