New Years Resolutions for Good Eyesight

Happy new year to you all! We hope that 2022 has started well for you. Have you set yourself any new years resolutions, maybe ones to help improve your health…what about your eye/visual health? Here are 5 really easy things you can do to keep your eyes in great condition.

Schedule a regular eye test

Making sure that you have a regular eye test is important as they are an opportunity for opticians (like Opticall) to conduct a thorough eye examination and eye health check which will help detect any changes in vision and diagnose any eye conditions or eye diseases.

Please also book an eye test if you notice any changes to your vision or if you are experiencing any symptoms that concern you.

If you, or someone you know, is unable to make it a high street optician/eye care professional due to age or poor health (and you live in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Milton Keynes or North West London) then please contact us for our completely mobile home-visiting optician’s service. Call us on 020 8998 4228.

Eye exercises

Eye exercises can help reduce the chances of getting eye strain (such as headaches, blurred vision and eye irritation) that you might feel when working for too long on a screen.

You could try:

• The 20-20-20 rule – this is when you set aside some time every 20 minutes while working on your computer to stare at an object 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds (or to take a 20-second break to relieve your eyes). This helps readjust your eyes so they aren’t focused on the same thing (a computer) for too long.
• Zoom in and out – this exercise helps your eyes focus. You can do this whenever you have some spare time, just sit in your chair with your arm outstretched and your thumb up. Then just move your thumb closer to your eyes (by bending your arm). Your eyes should focus on your thumb the whole time to practise their zoom and reduce eye fatigue.

Limit screen time

We live in a culture now that we are constantly using our computers, tablets, phones for work and leisure time on a daily basis. The activity of staring at these screens for long periods of time will cause digital eye strain and will lead to common eye conditions such as blurry vision/double vision and headaches. Try monitoring how much time you spend on a screen every day. Set your new years resolution to reduce this time and take regular breaks to help protect your eyes.

Eat healthily

We wrote a blog where we compiled a list of the best foods for good eyesight to help support/boost your eyesight and eye health. We also explained why a healthy diet with foods rich in fatty acids, vitamins and minerals are important to help protect your eyes. Check out the blog post here: https://opticalleyecare.co.uk/food-for-good-eyesight-what-to-eat/.

It is also important to take part in regular exercise to keep your whole body healthy and ensure you get a good number of hours of sleep.

Protect your eyes

Dig out your sunglasses in case we get some snow this winter! It is important to wear sunglasses (or other protective eyewear with UV protection) in high-glare conditions such as sun and snow to protect your eyes. Choose sunglasses with the UV 400 mark as this will give you at least 99% of both UVA and UVB radiation. UV exposure increases your risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Find out more about sun protection here: https://opticalleyecare.co.uk/protecting-your-eyes-from-the-sun/.

Another activity that requires eye protection is when you are doing DIY or playing sports. Wearing safety glasses or sports goggles when taking part in these pastimes are simple habits that will reduce the risk of eye injuries which could cause temporary or permanent vision loss.

It is really important to schedule a regular/annual sight test/eye exam but it is also just as important to book an eye test if you notice any changes to your healthy vision or if you experience any symptoms that concern you. Please call us your local, independent opticians on 020 8998 4228 to book one of our comprehensive eye exams today.