Eye health is a big issue in the UK – in 2022, a report from Specsavers stated that sight loss and blindness were responsible for an economic cost of £36 billion in 2019 alone; a sum expected to rise by £2.5 billion by 2024.
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50% of sight loss is avoidable. That’s why it’s crucial we all do what we can do to maintain healthy eyes. To help you retain your vision, here are some things you can do help.
Take care with glare
While winter is indeed darker, the sun can cause eye problems in the chilly months just as much as in the hot. In the winter, the sun hangs lower in the sky, which can create glare on paths, roads, and cars. And when it’s snowy, UV rays are reflected up from the snow to your eyes.
As such, make sure to bring a pair of sunglasses out with you when you go on walks on sunny winter days, and keep a pair in your glovebox in case your drive is hit by sudden glare.
Consider room temperature
In winter, the use of dehumidifiers and central heating can reduce the amount of humidity in our homes. Our eyes need moisture though, so to stop itchiness and dryness, moisturise your eyes regularly if you wear a pair of contact lenses – especially monthly lenses – and have a moisturising spray on hand for when your eyes feel tired and red.
Mind your devices
Our devices are a key driver of poor or positive eye health – all that bright, blue screen light can cause our eyes to strain, as well as cause headaches and poor sleep. As such, reduce the brightness of your smartphone, laptop, monitor, and TV where possible.
Unless you work on colour-sensitive tasks like graphic design or photo editing, the reduced brightness won’t have any effect on the experience, and in the case of portable devices, you’ll increase the battery life of your devices too.
Lead a healthy lifestyle
Believe it or not, diet can affect your eye health too. Antioxidants found within food (such as zeaxanthin and lutein) are important for purging your eyes of free radicals – molecules that form naturally in your body but can damage cells within the eye and rest of body.
Certain foods contain higher levels of these eye-friendly antioxidants, so be sure to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, omega-3-rich fish, and whole grains – washed down with plenty of water. It’s also a good idea to stop smoking, since smoke getting in your eyes won’t do them any good.
What do you do to keep your eyes in good condition during the winter months? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.