Philip Walsh - It's easy to keep your eyes healthy

As we get older it feels as though the idea of wearing glasses goes from a maybe to an inevitability. Some people think getting glasses is synonymous with getting old, so they ignore their eyes. But what they might not realise is that the most common form of poor vision, otherwise known as low vision, isn’t caused by the natural aging of your eyes, but by eye disease. Whether it’s glaucoma or cataracts, most eye diseases are treatable. That’s why it’s so important to have regular check-ups with your optometrist. Specsavers recommend an annual eye test so they can identify problems early and recommend the right treatment and eyewear.

Here are some simple and easy to follow tips on keeping your eyes healthy:

Lifestyle

A healthy diet is one way to keep your eyes healthy. Fruits, vegetables and foods that are high in omega, like fish, are the best. The old tale that carrots are good for your eyes has some merit, but for the best results chow down on anything green and leafy. And if you’re a smoker you could be damaging more than just your lungs. Smoking has been proven to have a direct link to eye damage.

At Work

As more people spend their days staring at a computer screen, it becomes more important to educate ourselves. You should be able to work hard without overworking your eyes.

The first and easiest steps you can take are to make sure your screen is a good 50cm away from your face and positioned just below eye level. If that’s not how you’re working, then make the change right now. I mean it. Stop reading and position your computer properly. All done? Okay.

The other important thing to remember is to give your eyes a break every now and then. Ignore that mountain of emails for a minute, it’s not going anywhere. We recommend the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes look at something 20 metres away for 20 seconds. Think of it as a pit stop for your eyes.   

At Home

And finally, finding out you have poor eyesight can be a lowlight, but the cause of it could be just that. Low light in your home or workspace is the most common cause of strained eyes. Try to use natural light as much as possible and light your home well, particularly when reading.

For more information and tips on healthy eyes and to book in an eye exam, visit: www.specsavers.co.nz.

About Philip 

Philip is an experienced optometrist with a Bachelor of Optometry from Auckland University. He’s worked in the UK, Zimbabwe and is now the Optometrist Director at the Specsavers New Lynn store in Auckland, one of 52 Specsavers stores across the country. 

Improving access for all Kiwis to high-quality eye care and eyewear is Philip’s passion. What he loves about his role at Specsavers is providing all his patients with excellent customer service and professional eye care with the latest technology and knowledgeable well-trained staff. 

www.specsavers.co.nz