Healthy Eye Habits You Should Start Today
Practicing healthy habits that enrich your life is a great idea at any given point in time. However, starting those habits early in life will allow you to reap the benefits longer.
Practicing habits that will prolong your eye health and sight, like avoiding looking directly into the sun and keeping unclean fingers out of your eyes, are simple measures we generally take to maintain healthy eyes. However, there are more that we will share with you.
The Five Best Healthy Eye Habits
Read on for healthy eye habits you should start today.
1. Eat a Balanced Diet
Nearly all things about a healthy body and life begin with a balanced and nutritious diet. Foods rich in vitamins A and C, leafy greens, and fish are essential. Fatty fish, like salmon, are packed with Omega-3 fatty acids.
Unfortunately, alcohol consumption, insufficient amounts of antioxidants, and foods high in saturated fat can create free radical reactions. Free radical reactions can harm the macula – the part of the eye responsible for central vision.
2. Get Plenty of Sleep
In addition to improving physical and mental performance, getting an adequate amount of sleep allows your body to repair itself, supporting good eye health.
3. Limit Time on Computers and Mobile Devices
The light and glare from digital devices can cause eye fatigue and strain, which can degrade eyesight over time. Make sure to take a break from your phone or computer screen every 20 minutes to focus on a distant object.
Twenty seconds is enough time to allow your eyes to refocus. Also, blink frequently and take time to adjust the lighting of your screen to reduce glare.
4. Exercise Regularly 
Exercising may not be immediately apparent as a means to maintain good eyesight, but it improves blood flow.
Improved blood circulation increases oxygen levels to the eye and eliminates toxins, ultimately aiding in eye health.
5. Quit Smoking
Smoking decreases blood flow and increases the risk for illnesses like diabetes, which can negatively affect eyesight. Quitting can improve your overall health quite quickly.
If adopted and maintained, these five habits, along with regular visits to your eye doctor, will improve your quality of life and help you maintain good eye health.
If you would like to add to your good eye habits by scheduling an eye exam, please contact The Eye Center, with locations in Huntsville and Madison, at (256) 705-3937.