Eyes

TOP TIPS FOR HEALTHY EYES

By Deanna Taylor PhD, MCOptOm, AFHEA

SMOKING l As well as not being great for the rest of our body, smoking can have damaging effects on our eyes. It can put you at much higher risk of developing eye diseases such as agerelated macular degeneration, which is the most common cause of blindness in the UK.

DIET l Although carrots can’t actually help you see better in the dark, they do contain vitamins which are essential for healthy eyes! Vitamins that are good for eye health can be found in other fruit and vegetables including sweet potatoes, oranges, tomatoes, and green vegetables such as spinach and kale. Eating a balanced diet and keeping the rest of your body as healthy as possible will reduce your risk of eye problems. SUNLIGHT l Sunlight can make our eyes age faster and put us at higher risk of some eye diseases. It’s a good idea to wear UV blocking sunglasses (check for a CE mark to show that they are made to European standards) and a wide brimmed hat in the sunshine to protect your eyes.

REGULAR EYE TESTS l It’s recommended that everyone has an eye test at least once every two years, even if you feel like your eyes are fine. This is because, as well as checking whether you need glasses or not, an eye test will check the health of your eyes and may pick up eye problems in their earliest stages when they are easier to treat. There are lots of reasons which may entitle you to a free NHS eye test – these include if you are in prison, if you’re out of prison and receiving certain benefits or if you’re known to have or be at risk of specific eye diseases.