Vital: Set Sights On Good Eyecare

Follow Our Tips To Make Sure Your Vision Stays In Top Condition IF you're reading this sentence without a pair of glasses, you probably believe your eyes are in good shape.

Those of us who don't wear glasses or contact lenses usually don't think twice about how healthy our eyes are.

But some eye conditions can damage your sight without any obvious symptoms. One example is glaucoma, which can lead to you losing 40 per cent of your sight before you notice any problems.

This week is the Royal National institute for the Blind's Eye Health Week, with people everywhere being encouraged to book an eye test to make sure their eyes are in good condition.

And with eye tests being free in Scotland, there's no excuse.

But how can we go about making sure our eyes are smiling? Here's a few tips on how to look after the windows of your soul.

STOP SMOKING

Smoking can double the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the UK's leading cause of sight loss. The link is as strong as the that between smoking and lung cancer.

About 500,000 people in the UK have AMD, and an estimated 54,000 people have the condition as a result of smoking, with a new report suggesting that seven out of 10 smokers would either stop smoking permanently or cut down if they thought it could harm their eyesight.

KEEP YOUR EYES COVERED IN THE SUN

UVA and UVB rays in sunlight can harm your eyes and may increase the risk of cataracts and AMD.

Wearing sunglasses, glasses or contact lenses with a built-in UV filter will protect your eyes, but you should only buy sunglasses that have a CE mark or carry British Standard BSEN 1836:1997.

In the UK on a day-to-day basis, UV exposure is very small. However, people who spend lots of time outdoors may need protection, while those living in countries with more sun may also need to take more care.

The UV exposure is much higher where there are more reflective surfaces like water or snow, so protecting your eyes on holiday is a good idea.

EAT HEALTHILY AND WATCH YOUR WEIGHT

Eating a diet low in saturated fats but rich in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli can protect against cataracts and Oranges, kiwis, nuts, seeds and oily fish may also help prevent and slow down some eye conditions, while it's also important to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can increase the risk of developing diabetes, which in turn could lead to sight loss.

Arecent report from the RNIB showed a direct link between obesity and some of the common eye conditions that cause blindness, such as AMD, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts.

SAFETY FIRST

DIY causes thousands of eye related injuries each year, so you should always wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris and fine particles.

Sport, and especially racquetbased sports, also cause lots of eye related injuries each year.

Investing in a good pair of protective sports goggles will help prevent serious damage to your eyes when playing sports such as squash or badminton.

TAKING CARE AT WORK

WHILE people in some manual jobs should be wearing safety goggles for their work, non-manual workers also need to take care of their eyes.

Although computer use won't change or damage your eyes or make any existing conditions worse, there are some important safety considerations.

You should take frequent breaks from your screen as your eyes can become tired when they are being used for long periods. Resting them can avoid headaches which result from tired eyes.

Make sure there is also adequate lighting for your task and glare on your screen is at a minimum, and if you need to wear glasses then wear them when using the computer.

Complete Information on all eye care topics:

Contact lenses, such as silicone hydrogel, 30-day extended wear and

contact lens prescription

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Eye conditions, such as pink eye, cataracts, eye herpes, glaucoma and macular degeneration

Low vision, sports vision and computer vision syndrome

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Read about vision insurance to understand your vision benefits

...and many more eye care topics