New Year’s Resolutions for Your Eyes

Now that we have begun a new year, it is time to think about those resolutions we always make.  But, instead of the normal lose weight, exercise more, make more money resolutions, let’s focus on things you should be doing to improve your eye health:

1)      Protect your eyes from UV exposure!  UV rays are very harmful to our eyes and may cause cataracts, macular degeneration, pingueculae & pterygia, solar maculopathy, and aging.  That means wearing sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays anytime you are outdoors during the day.  And yes that means on those overcast days as well. 

2)      Take better care of your contact lenses!  A recent report shows that more than 95% of contact lens wearers are non-compliant.  Anytime we don’t follow the doctor’s orders, we are increasing our risk for an adverse event associated with contact lenses.  These adverse events can range from mild dryness and discomfort to a very aggressive corneal ulcer that may leave you blinded.  Always discard of your lenses according to the schedule prescribed by your doctor.  Always use the specific contact lens solution prescribed by your doctor.  Always wash your hands and clean your lenses appropriately.  Lastly, keep your cases clean and change them every 2-3 months.  Check out this video for proper contact lens hygiene.

3)      Eat more vegetables and fish!  Vegetables, especially the green leafy kind, contain many nutrients and antioxidants that help keep your eyes healthy and performing well.  Fish is another great food for the eyes.  Omega 3’s found in fish (and flax seed) help promote healthy eyes and good tear production.  (This one may also help out with those other resolutions you made.)

4)      Get your eye health checked annually!  This is probably the most important thing you can do for your eyes.  A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to check for signs of any kind of eye problem and determine the best course of action to combat those problems.  Many issues arise gradually and without symptoms. If you wait until they get bad enough, they will be harder to treat and may even result in permanent damage to the eyes.  Just because you feel you can see just fine, does not necessarily mean your eyes are healthy.

These are just 4 simple things we can do that will improve our overall eye health.  Let’s make 2012 the year for optimal eye health!