Our eyes are poetically referred to as the windows of our soul but they don’t just reveal our inner psyche, they also provide important clues to our general health and you should take special care of them if you want to preserve your eyesight for life. Life in the 21st century isn’t on our eyes.
Not only do we expose them to higher pollution levels, stronger household chemicals and a much brighter sun when we go overseas, we also expect them to stare obediently for hours on end at computer screens. And we don’t eat enough nutrients to nourish them properly.
Continue to ignore your eyes’ simple needs and you run the risk of severely jeopardizing your eyesight in the future.
SEEK OUT SOME SHADES
Sunshine is bad for your eyes- even in the winter months. Exposing them to the UV-B ultraviolet rays in sunlight increases your risk of developing cataracts, a condition where the eyes’ clear lenses become cloudy.
We’re not talking about staring unblinkingly at the midday sun- even small amounts of UV -ii may be harmful. So high-quality sunglasses are an absolute must all year round.
Clearly you want to look cool, but decent UV protection is even more important than style! Look for shades that offer the ‘CE Mark’ and British Standard (BS EN 1836:1997), a UV400 label or a statement that the sunglasses offer 100 percent UV protection.
Sunglasses without UV protection are highly dangerous as pupils dilate behind dark lenses, letting in UV rays which can damage the retina and cause cataracts.
Wraparound shades, that offer protection at sides of the eyes, are popular in Australia, a country where people take safety very seriously; and so also USA and Canada.
SOMETHING IN THE AIR
Our eyes are also under relentless attack from dust and pollutants especially in the summer when UV light and pollen can make eyes dry and itchy.
Strong chemicals in the household cleaning agents or beauty products can also cause irritation.
It’s not known his much lasting damage can result but avoiding pollution will certainly make your eyes more comfortable in the short term.
Meanwhile, computers have reached nearly every corner of the globe and overexposure to screens is putting enormous pressure on our eyes. The killer combination or poor lighting, glare and flicker rate or the screen can cause a terrible strain, made worse by long periods spent moving and refocusing the eyes in order to view the keyboard and screen.
More than 50 percent of those who use computers suffered many problems, ranging from headaches to blurred vision. Recent research has also found frequent users – especially the short-sighted may be more likely to develop glaucoma, a condition where pressure builds up inside the eye and gradually damages the optic nerve, leading to loss of vision. Simple strategies such as taking frequent breaks.