10 ways to save your sight

ALMOST half of GPs say they feel less confident dealing with eye conditions than with any other part of the body, even though more than a quarter of us (26 per cent) turn to our doctor rather than an optician if we have an eye problem, according to research.

 

Shade your eyes from the sun to protect your sight

 

A new report by Optegra Eye Health Care, called Vision of Britain, also reveals that although four in five adults worry about protecting their sight, nearly half (44 per cent) do not attend regular eye tests. 

The study, carried out with the public, GPs and opticians, cited diet, smoking, UV rays and the demands of technology as causes of increasing eye health problems. 

Here are my top tips to look after your vision: 

HAVE AN EYE TEST EVERY TWO YEARS 

This is particularly important if you are over 50 (most eye disease is age-related), wear glasses or contact lenses, have a family history of glaucoma or are diabetic. Regular tests ensure your prescription is accurate and that there are no early signs of eye disease. 

Age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma (a build up of pressure in the eye that affects vision) and diabetes-related conditions can be treated more successfully the earlier they are diagnosed. 

Keeping the eyes and the surrounding skin clean is vital to help reduce the risk of eye infections

 

WEAR SUNGLASSES

UV exposure has been linked to the development of cataracts and macular degeneration so always protect your eyes from the sun with sunglasses showing the CE mark. Our European neighbours habitually wear sunglasses but unfortunately 66 per cent of UK adults don’t. 

And if you ski without sunglasses you risk ‘snow blindness’, an acute corneal burn causing severe pain, watering and blurred vision. Sunbed users should always wear protective goggles as the UV exposure can cause longterm damage and growths in the eyes as well as skin cancer. 

REMOVE MAKE-UP AT NIGHT 

Keeping the eyes and the surrounding skin clean is vital to help reduce the risk of eye infections. Research has shown that 52 per cent of eye problems treated by GPs and opticians are infections, many of which could have been avoided with good eye hygiene.

Going to sleep without removing make-up means foreign particles can come into contact with the eye, causing irritation, redness or even infl ammation. You should also get rid of any out-of-date eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara as these are breeding grounds for bacteria. 

 

Keeping the eyes and the surrounding skin clean is vital to help reduce the risk of eye infections

 

WASH HANDS REGULARLY 

We all touch our eyes without even realising it, to rub or adjust a contact lens or because we are feeling tired. Hands pick up germs and dirt from public transport, increasing the risk of eye infections. Consider how many germs are on your hands from any outing – it is estimated that there are between 10,000 and 10 million  bacteria on each hand, so always wash them before handling contact lenses or touching the eyes. 

DON’T MIX TAP WATER AND CONTACT LENSES 

Tap water can contain a parasite called acanthamoeba, which can cause rare but severe corneal infections seen almost exclusively in contact lens wearers, and it can be very difficult to treat. Swimming and showering while wearing contacts should be avoided for the same reason. 

REMOVE LENSES AT BEDTIME 

If you don’t observe the rules about removing contact lenses at night you risk developing blood vessels on your cornea which can threaten sight and cause serious infections. 

LIMIT SCREEN TIME

We are all so reliant on computers, tablets and smartphones that our eyes work hard to focus on small screens, often with moving images. This can disturb vision as eyes dry out, causing eye strain. We usually blink 20-30 times a minute but when we focus on screens this reduces to just three or four times a minute.

 

Try to limit your on-screen time and use the 20-20-20 rule: focus on something 20 metres away, for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes.

DIM THE LIGHTS

We are more sensitive to bright lights if our eyes are dry. If you are having problems with your vision at work it is important you see an optician. 

STOP SMOKING

Studies show that 83 per cent of opticians believe smoking is one of the main causes of eye health problems. Lighting up can be a significant risk in causing circulatory blockages, macular degeneration, severe loss of vision and diabetic eye disease. It can also cause circulatory diseases which can affect the arteries and veins of the eye, leading to sudden blindness. 

DRINK WATER AND EAT MORE OILY FISH

Dehydration can lead to dry, sore eyes so drink plenty of water during the day. Omega 3 fatty acids may also be beneficial for the eyes. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study by the National Eye Institute in America showed that taking a nutritional supplement containing lutein and zeaxanthin can help.

• Robert Morris is Optegra Eye Health Care’s medical director. For more advice on looking after your eyes visit optegra.com 

 

83 per cent of opticians believe smoking is one of the main causes of eye health problems