What do you know about the world of eye care? People often take their eyesight for granted until an issue arises. It’s important that you take good care of your eyes and know what to do when it comes to appointments with an optometrist. Consider the following advice as you look more into the field of eye care.

Avoid touching your eyes with your hand during the day if you had not washed your hands. When you are on the job or in school, your hands are in contact with surfaces that are full of bacteria. If you touch your eyes, you will transfer the bacteria to your eyes and raise the risk if an eye infection.

As if smokers didn’t need yet another health related reason to quit, this habit also threatens eyes. Since smoking deprives every cell in your body of oxygen, something eyes need every minute, smokers run the risk of damaging their vision with each puff of a cigarette. Protect your eyes by quitting smoking as soon as you can.

Take dry eyes very seriously if you suffer from this condition. While everyone experiences some dryness, either due to being tired or environmental influences, it can be damaging if it’s happening too frequently. Talk to your eye care professional about possible treatments for your dry eyes, to prevent long-term damage.

Wear sunglasses to protect your eyesight. UV rays are able to harm skin and eyes even through cloud cover. When you decide on a pair of sunglasses, choose ones that offer UV protection. While they will probably cost more, the proper care of your eyes is at stake.

If you wear contact lenses, avoid wearing them while you sleep or for more than 19 hours. Unless you are wearing special lenses that are made for wearing overnight, your contact can deprive your eyes of oxygen and lead to extreme discomfort and possibly serious permanent damage to your sight.

Get more Omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acids have plenty of health benefits and yet another has been discovered that helps the eyes. As most people grow older, their eyes stop producing enough oil and mucus to lubricate the eyes. However, diets with plenty of Omega-3 have been shown to increase the production of the required oils within the eye.

Go to the eye doctor on a regular basis to check for any inconsistencies that may disrupt your vision and impact the quality of your sight. If you have any problems, this doctor can give you contacts or glasses you so that you are not squinting during the day, which can cause painful migraine headaches.

Always wear safety goggles when coming in contact with hazardous materials, regardless of if you are at work or at home. It is best to keep a pair of these goggles in both locations, just in case you are faced with a situation where you need them. Do not take the safety of your eyes for granted.

Do you play sports? Certain contact sports, like lacrosse and ice hockey, can be dangerous for your eyes. Make sure you wear either sports goggles or a face mask to limit your risk. While it may seem strange to wear them at first, you will quickly get used to them.

Staring at a computer too long can strain your eyes. Blink your eyes often if you are suffering from dry eyes. You should also focus on cutting glare on display screens. Anti-glare screens can really help your eyes. Finally, position the monitor so that your eyes are even with the top edge of the screen. You need to just barely be looking down at your screen.

To diminish puffy eyes, use slices of raw potato. Cut the potato into half circles and place over your closed eyes. If you prefer, you can grate the potato and place in some Muslin cloth, then squeeze excess liquid out and place on closed eyes. Leave either on for 15-20 minutes for best effect.

Antioxidants can help prevent many eye problems. Studies have proven that antioxidants can help curb some of the biological deterioration people who are aging experience. It is believed antioxidants help by preventing cell damage oxidation causes. You can consume antioxidants through certain foods or even take a supplement; but, be sure to consult with a doctor first before taking one.

Try to always wear sunglasses if you are going to be out in the sun. Having your eyes exposed to too much ultraviolet makes you more susceptible to getting macular degeneration and cataracts. Make sure you choose sunglasses that block from 99% to 100% of the UVB and UVA rays.

Eye care is extremely important. Think about all the ways we use our eyes. Imagine not having the eyesight you need to accomplish your daily tasks. It’s imperative that you know about the world of eye care so that you can stay on top of having good eyesight as you age.

Take Care Of Your Eyes With These Top Tips was originally published on Spring