Take care of your eyes like a pro!

Taking care of your eyes is much more than just choosing the right pair of glasses or corrective lenses. The health of our eyes depends entirely on us and our daily habits. Learn about nine good rules that will allow you to take care of your eyes like a real pro!

Each year, millions of people around the world experience eye problems. Some eye problems can be corrected with contact lenses or glasses, while others cause significant and permanent deterioration in vision. While caring for our eyes may seem insignificant if we don’t have any vision problems, adopting a few simple habits will not only help us maintain proper vision, but will also reduce the likelihood of future vision problems.

Take care of your eyesight while working with the computer

Unfortunately, many of us spend endless hours in front of computer monitors, televisions or mobile phones – especially when our work, school or studies require it. Constant exposure to screens, be it a laptop, smartphone, tablet or TV, etc., leads to unnecessary eye strain.

Staring at the screen for too long can cause a lot of unpleasant ailments – dry eyes, a feeling of sand under the eyelids, difficulty seeing at a distance, and even fatigue and headaches. These are the symptoms of the so-called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Research shows that by 2050 up to half of the world’s population could be short-sighted if we maintain the current trend of spending so much time staring at electronic device screens. [1]

To avoid vision problems, it’s essential to follow the popular 20/20/20 rule – every 20 minutes you work, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Moreover, to maintain good posture and avoid eye strain, you should position your computer screen about the length of your arm and at a height that allows you to look down.

It is also worth remembering about adjusting the brightness of the screen to the environment and changing the position of the monitor – it is much better to look at the computer screen if it is below our eye level – preferably it should be about 10-12 cm below the center of the screen.

Remember about eye drops

Preservative-free eye drops can be used as often as needed. It is always worth having them at hand when you feel that your eyes need hydration, e.g. after a day at work in front of a computer screen, during a flight or a sleepless night. Hyal-Drop Multi drops are a good choice, as they bring immediate relief to irritated, dry and tired eyes. The moisturizing ingredients of the drops also soothe excessive tearing and the feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the eye. The product is also distinguished by the lack of preservatives (PFMD) and a sterile applicator with three antibacterial barriers, ensuring safe administration of the drops. Importantly, Hyal-Drop Multi drops can be used by people who wear contact lenses.

Examine your eyesight regularly

One of the best ways to keep your eyes healthy is to see an ophthalmologist regularly – an eye test not only determines if you need glasses, it can also identify eye conditions that can be treated successfully if detected early enough. Fatigue, dry eyes, and other similar conditions can lead to serious consequences if not eliminated. It is believed that up to 80 percent. vision problems can be prevented or effectively treated. [2] The question is – how often should your eyesight be tested?

Control ophthalmological examination in a healthy adult human (between 18 and 60 years of age) should be performed at least once every two years. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, an annual examination is necessary. Annual visits are also required for people over 61 years of age and those suffering from diabetes.

Regardless of your age, it’s important to see your eye doctor urgently if you notice any of the following symptoms:

1. Deterioration of visual acuity 
2. Double vision 
3. The appearance of the so-called “Scotomas” in front of the eyes 
4. Photophobia 
5. Severe pain in the eye socket 
6. Purulent discharge from the eyes 

Control your allergy

Annual burning, watery and itchy eyes sound familiar? These are the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, a persistent ailment of most seasonal allergy sufferers. Perennial allergic conjunctivitis is most often caused by dust mites, animal hair, or other non-seasonal allergens. These allergens, especially in the home environment, tend to cause symptoms all year round.

Try your best to control your allergic symptoms – in addition to avoiding allergens, take oral antihistamines regularly as recommended by your doctor and the so-called “Artificial tears” or special eye drops for allergy sufferers. Allergic conjunctivitis should never be underestimated – as with other allergic diseases, a chronic disease can develop, in the course of which the tissues of the eye surface are damaged and remodeled, and consequently even permanently damaged vision. [3]

Proper care and use of contact lenses

Contact lens wearers need to take special care of their eyes. While contact lenses allow you to correct various visual disturbances in a comfortable manner, they also pose a potential risk of developing serious eye infections and corneal ulcers if not handled properly. To avoid infection and keep your lenses in perfect condition, remember the following:

1. be careful when putting on and taking off contact lenses, applying makeup or removing make-up – it is recommended to put on lenses after putting on make-up and before removing your face 
2. do not use tap water to clean contact lenses. For cleaning and storing lenses, use only sterile, specially designed liquids. 
3. replace the lens case according to the manufacturer’s recommendations
4. never wear one pair of contact lenses longer than recommended. Even if you think your lenses can be worn for longer periods, you significantly increase your risk of developing an infection 
5. never sleep in contact lenses, unless otherwise instructed by your ophthalmologist
6. never share your contact lenses with anyone
7. always remove contact lenses before swimming in pools, seas and other bodies of water 

Never ignore the symptoms of an eye infection that may be associated with wearing contact lenses. These symptoms include discomfort, lacrimation, sensitivity to light, itching, burning, blurred vision, swelling and pain. If you have any of these symptoms, remove your contact lenses immediately and don’t put them back on. Infections and irritation caused by contact lenses can be serious and you should see your eye doctor as soon as possible.

Use sunglasses, not only on sunny days

Sunglasses aren’t an interesting accessory – whether you’re going to the beach, cycling, hiking in the mountains, or cheering for your favorite soccer team, wear appropriate sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Eye diseases that can be caused by overexposure to the sun are macular degeneration (AMD), dry eye syndrome, cataracts and melanoma of the eyeball. When choosing glasses, never put style over safety – buy glasses from proven sources that block from 99 to 100 percent. UVA and UVB radiation.

Always wear safety glasses – prevention is better than cure

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the US alone, 4 workers suffer eye injuries every day that require urgent treatment and surgical intervention. [XNUMX] Always wear safety glasses when playing sports or performing work that involves a high risk of eye injury. It is also a good idea to wear protective glasses when working in your home garden or cleaning with strong detergents. Let’s remember the famous words of Hippocrates – prevention is better than cure.

A diet for healthy eyes

The food we eat affects our entire body, and our eyes are no exception. A deficiency in vitamins and other important nutrients can have a negative effect on vision, increasing the risk of developing eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

Although eye problems related to aging, such as cataracts and glaucoma, cannot be completely eliminated, getting adequate amounts of nutrients such as zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C and E can help reduce the risk of eye problems associated with with age. In particular, it is also worth reaching for dark-leaved vegetables – kale, kale and spinach – they contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which help prevent the development of cataracts. Also, don’t forget to drink the right amount of fluid – when you’re hydrated enough, you prevent your eyes from drying out and irritating.

Quit smoking – your eyes will thank you

It is well known that smoking carries many serious health risks, but many people are not aware that this harmful addiction also affects our eyes. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of eye problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Smoking also causes the blood vessels of the retina to narrow, which can increase blood pressure and the risk of permanent vision loss.