6 SIMPLE WAYS TO BOOST
HEALTH + WELLNESS
Eye Health
A THIRD OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THEIR EYE HEALTH HAS DETERIORATED DURING THE UK LOCKDOWNS AND COVID RESTRICTION PERIODS . SO , AS WE LOOK TOWARDS INTRODUCING MORE NORMALITY TO OUR LIVES , THESE ARE SIX EASY WAYS TO KEEP EYES SAFE . BY DR . ANDY HEPWORTH
Revitalise eyes with a boost of vitamins and a better diet
Certain antioxidants help to promote good eye health – these include omega-3 fats and beta-carotene ; vitamins such as C and E , which reduce the risks of developing AMD , and zinc and carotenoids . Sources of vitamin A , lutein and zeaxanthin also promote good eye health . A varied and balanced diet is crucial for a healthy lifestyle but if you are looking to add more eye boosting benefits into your meals then kale , butternut squash , blueberries , apricot , and salmon are my go-to superfoods and a great place to start .
Digital downtime to reduce Dry Eye and CVS
According to research , around one in four people in the UK ( around 13 million adults ) currently suffer from Dry Eye , which causes red , itchy and tired feeling eyes . These symptoms can also be exacerbated by eye strain ( or Computer Vision Syndrome CVS ) – another eye condition that has become more common in tandem with an increase of time staring at screens .
Follow the 20:20:20 rule . Every 20 minutes , take a break for 20 seconds and look at objects that are 20 feet away . Following this rule will help prevent eye fatigue .
Contact lens wearers can be particularly susceptible to Dry Eye so if you are a lens wearer then you should make sure that you don ’ t wear them for longer than recommended and give your eyes a break by wearing glasses instead of your lenses on some occasions .
Don ’ t look on the bright side
Overexposure to UV light can lead to premature ageing , plus serious eye health issues such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration . Excessive UV exposure also has been linked to corneal sunburn and retinal tissue damage . It can also cause eye strain and headaches .
UVA rays are less damaging than intensive UVB rays , but eyes need to be protected from both . Make sure sunglasses have proper UV protection . The minimum should ideally be UV 400 protection , which blocks nearly 100 % of the sun ’ s harmful ultraviolet rays , with both UVA and UVB protection .
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