New Year, New You: Your New Year's Resolution for Healthier Eyes

So we find ourselves one month into 2023, the perfect time to review those New Year’s resolutions and remind ourselves once again that this year is the one. Perhaps the diet hasn't quite gone to plan and that shiny new gym membership card is lost down the side of the sofa somewhere, it happens to the best of us. But today, we want to talk about something much more important. The reason why you are able to sit here and read today. Your eyes.

In our opinion, our sight is one of the most important gifts we have, and it’s a gift that should be treasured. Join us today as we take a look at a few ways you can ensure your eye health throughout this year and long into the future.

Book an Eye Test

Eye tests are an essential part of maintaining good eye health and vision. Despite the importance of regular eye exams, many people often neglect them or think they only need one when they experience vision problems. In reality, booking an eye test is crucial for several reasons.

First and foremost, eye tests detect early signs of vision problems, allowing for prompt treatment before they worsen. This includes conditions like near-sightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and age-related macular degeneration.

Additionally, eye tests can also detect other health issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and even brain tumours. A comprehensive eye exam can uncover underlying health problems that may not be obvious through other means, making them a vital part of preventive health care.

Get to Know Your Family History

Many eye conditions all caused by inherited genetics, which means looking at the eye health in your family history can be a great way to identify possible sight issues long before they occur. Diseases and conditions including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration can all be traced back to have a genetic element. It is a good idea to share your family's eye health history with your eye doctor during your eye test to help catch any potential indicators of disease and allow plenty of time to administer the most effective treatments.

Healthy Diet = Healthy Eyes

I know we said sticking to your New Year's diet wasn't an issue, but monitoring what you consume can be hugely beneficial for the health of your eyes. essential nutrients and vitamins in our foods plays part in maintaining healthy vision. Vitamins A, C, and D, Omega three fatty acids, antioxidants, and bioflavonoids have all been found to reduce the risk of aids related I problems.

Luckily, many of these vitamins and nutrients can be found in our normal day-to-day food making them very easy to incorporate into any diet. Here are some of the most beneficial nutrients and foods you can be eating to help keep your vision crystal clear in 2023:

• Beta-carotene and Vitamin C-rich vegetables: spinach, kale, green leafy vegetables, carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, red or orange peppers
• Bioflavonoids sources: legumes, cherries, berries, citrus fruits, tea
• Omega-3 fatty acids: salmon, mackerel, walnuts, anchovies, tuna
• Vitamins A and D, zinc: fortified dairy products, oysters, beef, liver

Wearing Sunglasses

Who said sunglasses were just for the summer? Here at Glasses2You we like to wear sunglasses all year round! It's well known how damaging the sun’s rays can be to your skin, but very few people realise that these same rays can also cause problems with your eyes.

Wearing sunglasses is a great way to filter out these harmful rays and keep your eyes protected throughout the day. UV exposure has been found to have links with the risks of developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Sunglasses are capable of blocking at least 99% of these harmful UVA and UVB rays, so why take the risk?

Did we mention, all of the frames we sell at Glasses2You can be purchased with sunglass lenses? just select lens tint during your checkout.

Adopt The 20/20/20 Rule

With the ever-increasing use of electronic devices including phones, laptops, tablets, and PCs, our eyes have never been at a higher risk of overstraining. When looking at screens our eyes have to work extra hard to maintain focus and keep track of what we're reading or watching, this can lead to Computer Eye Syndrome. Symptoms of this may include:

• Headaches
• Dry or tired eyes
• Blurry vision/difficulty focusing
• Neck or shoulder pain

But, you'll be pleased to hear there's something simple we can do to combat this - simply follow the 20/20/20 rule. And it's as simple as this:

After 20 minutes of screentime give your eyes a break by looking at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

This is a great way to avoid excessive eye strain, and give your eyes a much-needed break from the hard work they do.

To Recap

We believe looking after your eyes is vitally important, and implementing just a few simple steps can make all the difference a few years from now. Considering your eye health when it comes to diet, check-ups, sun protection, and screen time will help to maintain your vision throughout 2023 and long into the future. If you require prescription glasses be sure to visit us online at Glasses2You, we stock thousands of glasses, in hundreds of styles, which you can try on from the comfort of your sofa and have delivered to your front door.