Reduce Your Chances Of Weak Eyesight By Following These Steps

1. Quit Smoking

Smoking tobacco is directly associated with many adverse health effects, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). ^{2 3} Research indicates that smokers are more likely to develop AMD than non-smokers. Smoking tobacco also raises your risk of developing cataract. If you need help quitting, you can get in touch with a physician.

2. Eat Better Foods

Vitamin deficiency may adversely affect retinal function. ⁴ Thus, eating foods rich in Vitamin A such as carrots and leafy green vegetables can help improve your eyes' health. Research shows that people who have a high intake of vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3 DHA and EPA fatty acids through their diet are less likely to suffer through early and advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

3. Regular Eye Examination

You must get regular eye exams, at least once a year, even if you show no signs of eye disease. ⁵ Early detection and treatment of eye conditions are crucial in keeping your eyes healthy. Based on the eye test results, your optometrist may prescribe the necessary follow-up exams and remedies to alleviate the symptoms of any eye problems.

Regular eye examinations become crucial if anyone in your family has a history of eye conditions, diabetes, or high blood pressure. ⁶ If that's the case, you must consult with an eye care professional to find out how frequently you need to get your eyes examined. Several major eye conditions, such as glaucoma and AMD, if diagnosed early, can be more successfully and efficiently treated. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to a partial or total loss of vision.

4. Contact Lens Care

If you wear contact lenses, you must thoroughly follow your eye care practitioner's instructions regarding the wear and care of contact lenses. ⁷ You must follow the instructions and recommendations to reduce the risk of developing eye issues such as corneal ulcers, eye pain and sometimes even blindness. These recommendations include:

• Avoid sleeping while wearing contact lenses
• Not using water instead of lens care solution,
• Never wearing contacts lense / lens care product that are expired,
• Not using disposable contact lenses beyond their prescribed duration

5. Be Aware Of Eye Strain

Using digital devices such as computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones can lead to eye strain, also known as Digital Eye Strain (DES) ⁸ or Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Since you cannot avoid using digital devices altogether, while working with digital screens, you can practice the 20-20-20 Rule.

The 20-20-20 Rule

While working on your computer, or tablets, or any other digital device, every 20 minutes, look away from the screen to a distant object kept 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This helps relieve your eyes of stress. In case the eye strain persists, it can be a sign of numerous different eye conditions, such as presbyopia, or dry eyes.

Living a healthy lifestyle and practising healthy habits protect you from the risk of developing long term health conditions. Be mindful and do the best you can.

Contact lens Options for Lens Related dryness

Consult with an eye care specialist to determine why you have eye strain and receive appropriate treatment to prevent further issues. In case you already are a contact lenses wearer or want to switch to contact lenses, check with your eye care practitioner to purchase contact lenses which reduces lens related dryness such as the Bausch+Lomb Ultra Contact lenses that are specially designed to prevent lens related dry eyes and offer superior visual acuity for an extended duration.

Bausch+Lomb Ultra Contact lenses are developed with MoistureSeal technology that retains up to 95% moisture, higher breathability, and a thin, comfortable lens that prevents lens dehydration, and discomfort. The best part – You can comfortably wear the Bausch+Lomb Ultra Contact Lenses for up to 16 hours a day, all without having dryness feeling in eyes!⁹

Choose Your Contact Lens Provider Carefully

Before making any decision about switching to contact lenses from eyeglasses, and vice-versa, you must consult with an optometrist to ensure that you get the best of vision care.

At Bausch+Lomb, we strive to provide the best quality contact lenses and wearing experience. After carefully analyzing the options you have, make sure you also consider the wearing time of contact lenses. You can pick among annual or disposable contact lenses such as monthly and daily disposable contact lenses, which require you to maintain them by cleaning regularly.

Sources:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4064227/#:~:text=Chennai%20is%20one%20of%20the,%25%20CI%203.2%E2%80%934.4%25).
[2] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/smokers
[3] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/amd-macular-degeneration
[4] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/diet-nutrition
[5] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/what-is-an-ophthalmologist
[6] https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/eye-exams?sso=y
[7] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/contact-lens-care
[8] https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/computer-usage
[9] Data on file Bausch & Lomb Incorporated