We all know we have five senses: the eyes to see, the tongue to taste, the nose to smell, the ears to hear, and the skin to touch. The most important of them all being our eyes. We perceive up to 80 per cent of all impressions through our eyes. And if other senses like smell stop working, it's our eyes that protect us from danger.
Thus to protect our vision we should follow this daily routine.
1. Avoid rubbing eyes.
Our hands are exposed to a lot of dirt, dust and bacteria, and all of these can be easily transferred to our eyes each time we rub them. So we should avoid touching our eyes to prevent infection or irritation.
2. Keep hands clean.
Washing hands regularly keeps bacteria and viruses at bay and prevents them from getting in contact with our eyes and contact lenses.
3. Protection from sun.
Exposure UV rays of sun increases our risk for retinal damage and may burn cornea to cause photokeratitis. So wear those sunglasses to protect your eyes and add a fashion statement too. You can also try UV-protected eyeglasses or contact lenses. Putting on caps and hats is also advisable.
4. Stay hydrated.
Sufficient fluid intake is necessary to our body’s overall wellbeing, including our eyes. Proper hydration prevents our eyes from getting dry and irritated.
5. No smoking.
Smoking makes us more susceptible to age-related retinal damage and cataract. Smoking can lead to damaging the optic nerves, which can have adverse effects on our vision.
6. Eat a balanced diet.
VITAMIN A , Beta-carotene, Lutein, Omega-3, Lycopene, and Vitamins Cand E are essential for keeping eyes healthy.
7. Maintain proper screen distance and good room lighting.
Computer screens should be kept at an arm’s length away from the eyes and 20 degrees below eye level. This keeps our eyes from getting strained. Likewise, we should have sufficient and diffused lighting in our rooms. Focused and too bright lights may result in glare, and this can put too much stress on our eyes.
8. Follow the 20-20-20 rule.
Most doctors will advise you to follow the 20-20-20 rule to keep your eyes safe. Which states that:
- At a break of every 20 minutes, look away from your computer screen and try fixing your gaze on an object that’s 20 feet away from you.
- 20 successive blinks to prevent eye dryness.
- Break every 20 minutes, get out of your seat and take 20 steps.
9. Put right kind of eye make-up.
- Choose your makeup visely. Choose brands that work well for you. Avoid eye shadows, mascara, and eyeliners that could cause an allergic reaction to your eyes.
- Most importantly don’t forget to use a make-up remover before going to bed to avoid bacterial build-up from residual make-up left in the eye area.
- Clean your make-up brushes regularly, especially the ones used for eye make-up application.
10. Sleep well.
Our eyes need to recharge too, and this happens only while we sleep. So do not compromise on your sleep cycle to keep your eyes healthy.
11. Use proper eye safety gear.
Whatever activity you do, make sure that your eyes are always protected. If you’re swimming, wear swimming goggles to avoid exposing your eyes to chlorine. While gardening put on safety glasses to protect your eyes from dust particles and injuries.
12. Live in a clean environment.
Exposure to dirt can irritate the eyes, so make sure that the places you frequently visit are clean. Change you linens regularly and keep your workstation clean.
Dr Garima Goel
( India )