The value of being able to clearly see what we need to see when we need to see it cannot be underestimated. However, it’s often something we don’t really think about until it’s not working the way we need it to be working. Our visual system is complex, but by spending a little time every day to prevent silent disease, you can protect the clarity and comfort of your vision and, ultimately, your quality of life. We want to offer up some of our top eye care tips to keep you seeing comfortably and clearly.
Prevention is hands down the best form of treatment. At Fort Collins Family Eye Care, we believe that following a few simple but critical eye care tips will make a big impact on the quality of your vision. Preventing silent disease is the best thing you can do for your eye health, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Regular eye exams are crucial to protecting your eyes. One of the simplest things you can do to care for your eyes is to make and keep your annual eye care appointment. Eye dilations and examinations are simple and painless, but they are remarkably valuable. Most eye diseases are silent, meaning that your Fort Collins eye doctor can check:
Early detection allows for the most effective treatment. Staying on top of your regular care should also include regularly checking in with yourself and asking:
If you’re answering yes to any of these questions, the best thing you can do is to schedule an appointment with your Fort Collins eye doctor. Dr. Munson has the experience and technology to give you the best preventative eye care.
1:4 Coloradoans have skin cancer - around the eye and near the vulnerable skin tissues is where we find it most often. Are your eyes Sun Safe? Protect your eyes from UVA and UVB damage by wearing sunglasses! In Colorado, we’re closer to the sun, meaning that our need to protect our eyes and our skin from UV damage is greater and quite pressing. Irreversible damage from UV exposure can cause cataracts, dry eye, and damage to your retina.
Starting early is the key. According to the World Health Organization, studies indicates that up to 20% of cataract cases are avoidable because they are caused by UV exposure.
Don’t forget about safety glasses! If you’re working in construction, playing sports, or doing anything else that has the potential to cause injury, make sure that you have adequate eye protection. If you’re not sure what you need to fully protect your eyes, just ask!
Screens are just a part of modern life. Odds are, you’ve got a few within your reach right now. The fact of the matter is that screens are hard on our eyes. So, what can you do about it? Follow the 20-20-20 rule!
What is the 20-20-20 rule? It’s your excuse to peel your eyeballs away from your work every 20 minutes in the name of prevention! Every 20 minutes, take a break from your screen to focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It really is that simple. Digital vision syndrome can cause real problems and real headaches, quite literally. The 20-20-20 rule will help you protect your vision so that you see clearly and comfortably.
But wait! Not all screens are created equally. Studies show that emitted light from things like iPads, tv's, and cell phones are more harmful to our sleep cycles, tear film, and retina, than devices that reflect light like Kindles and paper books. Take stock of what you’re asking of your eyes and love them accordingly. Your vision will thank you!
Just as you have an oral health and skincare routine, you can keep your eyes healthy with a daily eye care routine. Preventative steps like using a daily medicated cleansing wipe or being mindful of the skincare and makeup products you use can help prevent blepharitis and dry eye disease. Making sure the area around your eyes is clean will help prevent the buildup of plaque, especially for the contact lens wearer, and biofilm that can cause serious and irreversible damage to the delicate structures around your eyes.
Choosing beauty products that support and promote eye health doesn’t have to be complicated. Dr. Munson has already done the work for you! At Fort Collins Family Eye Care and EyeSpa, we endorse:
These brands are committed to making clean beauty and skincare products that are safe! To learn more about other products that Dr. Munson endorses, visit our EyeSpa page.
Your eyes and your health are linked. Your vision can give you headaches and neck aches, and your diet can impact your vision. However, by making healthy choices like being mindful of what you eat, committing to your physical health, and avoiding smoking, you can ensure the long-term health and quality of your vision.
There are so many benefits to eating a balanced diet, and protecting your vision is one of them. A balanced diet, including eating lots of leafy greens and vegetables, provides nutrients that are essential to eye development and health. We know how to keep your neurology, vasculature, and gut from leaking! The eye is a direct partner in the gut, brain, vasculature triad, and the better it functions, the healthier your eyes will be. Additionally, Omega-3 has been linked to eye health and may even be able to slow macular degeneration.
Whole foods offer a wealth of nutritional benefit, but sometimes you need an added boost! When that’s the case, you should consider supplements! At Fort Collins Family Eye Care, we offer nutritional supplements like HydroEye®, MacuHealth®, and supplements offered by Standard Process to help ensure that you get the nutrition you need to have healthy vision for life.
Staying physically active reduces potential complications from high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Consequently, being mindful of this will reduce your risk of visual complications from these conditions.
The lifestyle choices we make impact our whole-body wellness, and your eyes do not exist in isolation. The choices we make on a daily basis impact our eye health. It’s all connected. Smoking increases the chances not only for cataracts and macular degeneration, but it also exacerbates health issues and puts you at risk for certain cancers and health problems like heart disease. For more info on vision loss related to smoking and resources for quitting, visit the CDC’s website.
Experiencing rejuvenation is a great way to make sure your eyes stay healthy and your vision stays comfortable. Ocular skincare can help you improve the health and collagen production in the skin around the eyes, meaning you will both look and see better.
Dry eye disease can cause itchy, gritty eyes, blurry vision, increased eye fatigue, redness, light sensitivity, and more. You don’t, however, have to simply put up with these symptoms. In fact, you shouldn’t. Therapeutic, rejuvenating treatments like cleansing, deep massage techniques, and warming technologies can not only treat the symptoms of dry eyes but treat dry eye disease itself.
When it comes to your eye care, a little rejuvenation can go a long way. Whether it’s in investing in new skincare products, cleansing wipes for lid and lash care, or scheduling an EyeSpa experience, rejuvenation can give your eyes a much-needed hydration boost and improve the health of the structures around your eyes.
Following these few simple top eye care tips will improve the health of your eyes and the comfort of your vision. To learn more about what you can do to take care of your eyes, call or text (970) 223-7150 to make your reservation at Fort Collins Family Eye Care.
