5 Ways To Maximize Your Eye Health

By Lamont Bunyon, OD

Special Eye Care

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5 Ways To Maximize Your Eye Health

1. Visit your local doctor of optometry for routine annual comprehensive eye exams. During your visit your doctor will check several things, including the health of your eye, determine your best corrected vision, rule out ocular disease that may be blinding including glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. Additionally, your doctor will evaluate how well your eyes work as binocularly (as a team) and focusing ability at distance (driving), near (reading) and computer (intermediate).

Most importantly your doctor will advise if you need prescription eyeglasses, prescription contact lenses, eye exercises or eye drops to keep your vision sharp, your eyes working well together or if you need dry eye relief.

2. Wear your prescription eyewear as prescribed. Glasses prescribed will come with detailed instruction when and how to use your eyeglasses. If you are prescribed eyeglasses whether for full time use, distance only, reading only, driving only or computer use, it is important that you use them as directed for clear and comfortable vision. If you do not use your eyeglasses as prescribed it may result in eye strain, headaches or worsening vision.

3. Wear your contact lenses as prescribed. Your contact lenses are medical devices prescribed with a specific material, curvature, diameter and prescription that will enhance your vision. You must wear your contact lenses as prescribed for the number hours daily, weekly and monthly as directed by your doctor. Overuse of your contact lenses may lead to red eyes, itchy eyes, infection, inflammation and even the inability to wear contact lenses in the future.

4. Seek help if your eye is red, itchy, blurry or painful. Whenever your eyes are changing whether it is from development of redness, itchiness, blurriness or pain you should seek the advice of your local optometrist. A red eye can be an early sign of infection or inflammation from bacteria or virus. An itchy eye can be an early sign of allergy or dry eye (ocular surface disease). A blurry eye can be a sign of developing cataract, corneal disorder or retinal/macular (inner eye) changes. A painful eye can be a sign of infection, inflammation, glaucoma or foreign body trapped in the eye.

Your eye doctor can determine during an urgent care visit the best way to treat your eye to get relief from a red, itchy, blurry or painful eye by prescribing eye drops, treatment or recommending surgery if necessary.

5. Use good visual hygiene. In our world today, we spend hours on our cell phones and computer screens at work, school and leisure. A top recommendation is to take regular breaks (about every 20 minutes) from staring at a computer screen or cellphone. Use of anti-reflective lenses will provide relief from excessive glare and blue light exposure. Use of lubricant rewetting eye drops will help prevent dry eyes, eye strain and headaches from lack of blinking while looking at screens.

Your doctor of optometry will make recommendations of the best things to do for you individually to ensure you have the best habits and practices to ensure good visual hygiene. Good visual hygiene is a top way to maximize your eye health and vision.