Helpful Tips for Preventing Common Eye Problems
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Posted On :
Jun-30-2010
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Article Word Count :
836
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The human eye is an incredibly complex and resilient organ. It is the sense we probably rely on the most and yet we often take it for granted.
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The human eye is an incredibly complex and resilient organ. It is the sense we probably rely on the most and yet we often take it for granted. Only when we are suddenly plunged into total darkness do we realize how important our eyesight is, and how frightening it would be to lose it.
The fact is that there are a lot of bad habits, as well as outside factors, that can cause temporary and even permanent damage to our eyes. Here are a few tips to help prevent some of the more common eye problems that people encounter.
Limiting Ultraviolet Exposure
There are some people out there who may not want to wear sunglasses because it makes them look too “flashy.” But wearing protective eyewear is about more than trying to look cool. They protect against harmful UV light, which can eventually cause eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
Wearing a hat with a brim on it such as a baseball or cowboy hat will also cut your exposure to the sun by almost half. If it is a very sunny day out and you are around a lot of reflective surfaces like the ocean or fields of snow, it is best to double down on the hat and the shades.
There are also a lot of things to consider when buying proper sunglasses. You want to make sure that the glasses you buy have good UV protection. Lens color and “polarized” lenses make no difference with UV protection, although polarized lenses do reduce the glare given off by reflective surfaces.
Price really doesn’t matter when it comes to getting a pair of sunglasses that will protect your eyes. A designer brand might look great but oftentimes they offer very little protection. Once you know that lenses offer a good amount of protection from ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B radiation, the most important thing is that they are comfortable enough for you to wear for long periods of time.
Preventing Eyestrain
All our lives we have heard about how reading in low light or sitting too close to the television will damage our eyesight. But eye specialists have since debunked this myth. Yes, it will tire your eyes out, but it will not do any actual damage.
With that being said, if you are sitting in front of a computer all day at work you aren’t going to want your eyes tiring out on you. And if you aren’t careful they most certainly will.
The best way to prevent eyestrain is the same cure to resting any muscle on the body. You just need to take a rest. If you have been reading or in front of the computer too long, just take a little break. Walk outside for a minute and just stare off into the distance. Did you know that smokers say they have less stress during the workday and it is attributed to the larger amount of short breaks that they take? Of course you should never start smoking, but going outside a few times during your workday to rest your eyes and your brain will do wonders for your productivity and your mental health.
Again, eyestrain doesn’t actually harm your eyes, but it can cause dry eyes, make it difficult to focus, wear you out, or give you a headache. If you have eyestrain that happens again and again you might want to see an eye-care professional. While on its own it is harmless, it can sometimes be a symptom for something more serious, like glaucoma.
And remember that taking breaks from work are just as important for your soul as they are for your eyeballs.
Scheduling Regular Checkups
Most people won’t go to any doctor unless there is something wrong. This is just the way human beings tend to operate. However, it is important to see the eye doctor about every two to four years.
This is important for several reasons. For one, your eyesight could be deteriorating without you knowing it and you might need a change in prescription. It is also important because an eye doctor can potentially catch an eye problem before it turns into something more serious. Oftentimes if you wait until symptoms develop you may risk losing some of your vision capability in the long run.
Some people with family histories that include glaucoma or macular degeneration should have checkups more often, say, once a year. The same goes if you have diabetes or severe shortsightedness.
Keep in mind that there is a difference between an ophthalmologist, an optometrist, and an optician. Opticians are only trained to make prescription eyewear and fit them to you. They can’t actually prescribe you medication for an eye disease and only ophthalmologists can conduct eye surgery.
Protecting your eyes is important and if you follow these simple suggestions it will greatly reduce your chances of developing eye problems.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Helpful Tips for Preventing Common Eye Problems_23964.aspx
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Author Resource :
Jon Davidson is a freelance writer who writes about health, eye care and specific products and where to purchase them such as contact lenses online.
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Keywords :
contact lenses online,
Category :
Health and Fitness
:
Health and Fitness
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