How to Look After Your Eyes and When to Get Help

We often take our eyes for granted. Nowadays, we let our so-called “window to our soul” go through hours of screentime without rest. Along with an unhealthy lifestyle, we seem to make our eyes get more strained easily.

There are many ways to look after your organs of sight. Don't wait until the need for extensive eyecare services arises before you take care of your eyes. As such, you should know the various telltale signs that you need care services.

We at Sussex Eye Clinic have listed ways to look after your eye health. We have also listed signs you should acknowledge that you might need to go on an eye exam and undergo eye surgery or any other restorative eye treatments.

Ways How You Can Look After Your Eyes

Keep your eyes in check by doing the following:

Itchy Eyes? Don’t Rub it With Your Hands

Your hands are exposed to many bacteria. If your eyes are itchy and you decide to rub them with your eyes, the dirt and dust get transferred from your fingers to your eyes. Your eyes are now at risk of infection and irritation.

The next time your eyes get itchy, consider applying a cold compress. And if the itch is due to a gush of air that went straight to your eyes, consider blinking many times.

Feeling Tired? Take a Break; Your Eyes Are Tired, Too

Most of our jobs involve long hours of sitting in front of a computer screen in an artificially lit room. And if you work long hours in this condition, make it a habit to take a break—and yes, this includes taking a break from scrolling through your phone.

You can follow the 20-20-20 rule, which involves looking away from your monitor every 20 minutes, gazing at something 20 feet away, and blinking your eyes 20 times.

Limit Your Smoking Habits Until You Quit

Even though the apparent organ affected by smoking is the lungs, do you know that it can double your chances of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? AMD affects the middle part of your vision, and it manifests in adults in their 50s and 60s. If AMD is left untreated, it will lead to vision loss and, consequently, to blindness.

Apart from AMD, smoking can also increase your risk of cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye disease, and glaucoma.

Let Your Eyes Recharge Through Sleep

If your eyes can hardly focus and function while at work or in school, then don’t pass up on getting proper sleep.

A sufficient amount of sleep allows you to replenish your eyes’ supply of tears that keep them hydrated during the day. So, rest your eyes within the recommended number of sleeping hours (7-8) to feel refreshed and healthy.

Schedule an Eye Exam Even Without Vision Problems

Don’t wait until you experience eye problems before you avail yourself of eyecare services, such as eye examination.

Who knows? Perhaps your eyes already have an underlying condition you are not yet aware of as the symptoms are not obvious. Only then can you find anything out regarding your eye health if you go on a checkup.

Signs You Need to Get Your Eyes Checked

Now that we've laid out some ways to look after your eyes, here we'll go over the tell-tale signs you need to get your eyes checked. The following should tell you if it's time to get a comprehensive eye examination:

Sensitivity to Bright Lights

Do you find it challenging to look at the sun directly? Or, when you travel at night, do your car's headlights bother you? Be it bright sunlight or indoor light, perhaps you find yourself having migraines or headaches, or you find yourself blinking or closing your eyes incessantly.

What you are dealing with is most likely sensitivity to light. While there are many reasons behind this sensitivity, one of the reasons includes photophobia, which causes an increase in sensitivity and aversion to any light source.

Difficulty Seeing in the Dark

Sure, you can see well, especially if there is enough lighting. But how about when the light dims or when there is total darkness around you? Perhaps you find that you have trouble seeing, particularly reading traffic signs at night, or even entering a dark room.

Such signs may suggest that you are experiencing night blindness. If you are old and experiencing these signs, be warned that night blindness can be a symptom of cataracts.

Blurry or Unfocused Sight

Having a blurry or unfocused vision should already be a cause for alarm. Once you experience this, make sure you have your eyes checked right away because this can be a symptom of a bigger eye problem that you may not be aware of yet.

There are a handful of reasons behind this problem. You most likely have refractive errors. This eye problem may be a result of nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia for old age patients. Refractive errors also appear in patients with untreated diabetes.

More Than Frequent Headaches

Are you experiencing headaches and can’t pinpoint why? It’s probably high time for you to schedule an eye exam, especially if your typical day involves long hours of screen time.

Don’t wait until your headache worsens. If you feel like your headaches are more frequent, even if they are manageable, then have your eyes checked right away. All the more if the area in pain is behind your eyes or on your eyebrow ridge.

Find Yourself in Need of Eyecare Services? Get Help Today!

Eye surgery is one of the best ways to improve your eyesight with long-term results. Consult with Sussex Eye Laser Clinic today if you want to undergo one. Our professional team of eye surgery specialists can provide you with a wide range of effective eye treatments and surgeries.

Contact our clinic today on 01273 083780 or send an email to info@sussexeyelaserclinic.co.uk to get started on your journey to better eye health.