Great Ways to Celebrate “Save Your Vision Month“
Did you know that March is known as Save Your Vision Month? During this time, optometrists and other eye health providers shed light on ways to prioritize eye health and vision care. Patients are encouraged to schedule in-person eye exams and get comprehensive vision check-ups for themselves and their families.
The pandemic has led to some negative side effects on people’s vision in the last two years, as more time was spent in front of screens due to work from home orders, and homeschooling through video conferencing. Many people developed excessively dry eyes and strains on their vision.
Video game usage also increased during the pandemic, leading to even more screen time when people weren’t working or at school. Patients with diabetic eye disease also had a higher risk of eye complications as they were less likely to get their regular check-ups due to social distancing requirements and an increased reluctance to visit their doctor’s office in person.
Now that it seems the pandemic may be behind us soon, what can we do to save our vision in 2022? We’ve compiled some tips to help you do just that. Keep reading to learn more!
Rest Your Eyes More Often
It can be tempting to go for hours at a time when we’re in the zone at work or in school. However, making sure to give your eyes a break throughout the day can do wonders in helping prevent eye strain and dry eye symptoms. This is especially important for both adults and children that are consistently exposed to screens and digital devices every day.
These individuals should try to give their eyes a little break every twenty minutes, or a few times every hour. This can be done by looking away from a screen and glancing at something in the distance for around twenty to thirty seconds. Wearing blue light glasses can also help prevent eye strain, especially if you are in front of a screen for an excessive amount of time.
Schedule a Comprehensive Annual Eye Exam
One of the best things a person can do is to schedule an annual eye exam with their doctor to check on how their vision is doing. A comprehensive check-up can catch red flags and symptoms that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Being able to catch eye problems early on can significantly impact how well eye problems can be treated.
If caught early enough, there is a much higher chance that any type of disease or eye complication can either be corrected, prevented, or stopped from getting worse. Visiting your doctor in person is the best way to get an eye exam that gives a thorough look at your vision. Make sure to schedule one for yourself and others in your family.
Eating a Healthy Diet
The nutrients we put into our bodies have a significant impact on all aspects of our health, and this includes our eyes and vision. Green, leafy vegetables in particular have lots of important vitamins that we need, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and lutein.
Foods with high omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, are also great at supporting strong vision and eye health. Try to increase your intake of vegetables, fish, nuts, and beans to boost your intake of vision-enhancing vitamins and minerals.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many great ways to protect your vision and boost eye health. Start by consciously taking breaks throughout the day and taking time to rest your eyes. This can help prevent eye strain and dry eye symptoms from forming. It is also critical to schedule an annual eye exam and get checked out for any potential vision complications or red flags. Finally, choose to eat a healthy diet that helps your eyes stay strong and healthy as the years go by.