With a new year around the corner, have you started thinking about your New Year resolutions?
When was the last time you thought about your eye health? Eye health is often overlooked and good vision taken for granted, so why not make your eyes a priority this year?
10 Eye Care Resolutions for the New Year
1. Book Regular Eye Exams
The biggest and most obvious one: keep to a schedule of regular eye examinations to make sure your eyes stay healthy. Eye tests are a proactive way to detect early signs of eye diseases and conditions, often before you notice any symptoms. If it has been two years or more since your last one, book an eye test at your nearest D.I. Blow practice.
2. Practise Good Contact Lens Hygiene
Whilst easy to overlook, good contact lens hygiene can be the difference between getting an eye infection or not. Replace lenses according to your plan and clean them properly using the solution provided. Avoid sleeping in contact lenses or rubbing your eyes whilst wearing them.
3. Wear Sunglasses for UV Protection
Invest in a good pair of sunglasses this year to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Make sure to choose a pair that offers both UVA and UVB protection. This helps reduce the risk of cataracts and other eye conditions. Not sure which lenses to choose? Our guide to polarised vs non-polarised sunglasses explains the difference.
4. Eat a Well-Balanced Diet
The food you eat has a direct impact on the health of your eyes. Focus on a well-balanced diet including foods rich in vitamins A, C and E as well as omega-3 fatty acids. Include leafy greens, fish, nuts and a variety of fruits to get the nutrients you need. See our guide to the link between diet and eye health for more detail on which foods help most.
5. Stay Hydrated
Good hydration helps prevent dry eyes. Drinking enough each day supports tear production and keeps your eyes moist and comfortable. The NHS recommends 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day, and water is the best choice.
6. Limit or Quit Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption have been linked to various eye diseases, including macular degeneration and cataracts. Cutting down or quitting can make a big difference to your long-term eye health. Find out more about how smoking affects your eye health.
7. Follow the 20/20/20 Rule
When you’re using a screen, every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This simple screen break helps reduce eye strain and reminds you to blink. Our guide to protecting your eyes from screen fatigue has more tips.
8. Talk to Your Family About Their Eye Health
Make time for a conversation with your family about their medical history, as some eye conditions, such as glaucoma, can run in families. If they do, let your optometrist know at your next eye test. Our guide to the early signs of glaucoma explains what to look out for.
9. Try Contact Lenses
What better time to try something new than a new year? Contact lenses have many advantages, especially if you play sport or are always on the go. You can wear them every day or just for special occasions. Find out more about contact lenses at D.I. Blow Opticians.
10. Clear Out Your Makeup Bag
Old makeup can harbour all sorts of nasty bacteria. Products like eyeliner and mascara carry a Period After Opening symbol, usually 6, 12 or 24 months. Don’t keep makeup longer than you should.
Looking after your eyes is an important part of your overall wellbeing. With the right diet, a few lifestyle changes and regular eye care, you can keep your vision sharp and your eyes healthy all year. For more daily habits to build into your routine, see our 10 daily tips for maintaining healthy eyes.
Start the year as you mean to go on: book your eye test with D.I. Blow Opticians.
