Your eyesight is one of the most valuable things you’ve got. It’s the predominant of the five senses for most of us. Eyesight is also extremely important in this age of information when most of us spend hours a day looking at screens on computers and other devices.
Various kinds of glasses offer eye protection. Safety goggles are important in many work sites. Any time your work or activity involves anything that can splash, spatter or splinter, it’s a really good idea to wear safety glasses. That includes painting, working with chemicals, acids or potentially harmful liquids, using saws, drills and equipment such as nail drivers and staplers, working with high pressure water or any hot liquids.
Sunglasses offer protection from harmful UV rays and from bright sunlight. That means sunglasses in South Florida’s fierce sun, and sunglasses in areas where there’s a lot of reflection such as beaches, on the water or at a football game.
Computers and the screens on electronic devices can cause eyestrain. Try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes look away from the screen, look at a spot about 20 feet ahead of you for about 20 seconds. If you work inside, bright lighting can also cause eyestrain; softer lights or indirect lighting helps.
Stop smoking. The song about smoke getting in your eyes is a crooner’s favorite, but smoke can irritate eyes. And if you use a grill or smoke meat, be careful not to get the smoke in your eyes (or lungs!).
Your diet can help, too. Many studies have shown that vitamins C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, luteins and zinc contribute to eye health. That means green leafy vegetables and fatty fish like salmon. Maintaining a healthy weight can help as well, because obesity can lead to diabetes, and Type-2 diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness.
