We’re all familiar with Dry January and Veganuary, so we thought why not have Eyecare January too? Entering a new year is always a great time for you to make positive changes to your health and lifestyle, and that includes knowing how to look after your eyes and make the most out of your eyewear and contact lenses!
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of our top five eyecare and eyewear tips– read on to find out more...
1. Eat healthily
Eating the right food promotes good vision and eye health, helping to protect your eyes from eye conditions, like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Leafy greens, citrus fruits, bell peppers, carrots, nuts, and oily fish should all be on your menu for their abundance of vitamins, minerals, and Omega-3 fatty acids. You can find more details about each of these nutrients in our blog here.
2. Exercise and stop smoking
Along with causing a host of problems to your body in general, smoking is known to increase your chances of developing a number of eye conditions, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and damage to your optic nerve. We strongly advise quitting the habit sooner rather than later to prevent the onset of these conditions, some of which can be sight threatening.
Keeping fit by exercising regularly also boosts your eye health by increasing blood flow to your optic nerve and retina, as well as helping to prevent high blood pressure and cholesterol, both of which can lead to eye disease.
3. Keep up with regular eye exams and know your family history
Detecting eye conditions early means we can refer you for treatment before they get serious.
Regular eye exams will help pick up asymptomatic conditions like glaucoma before they can cause irreversible damage to your eyes and having knowledge of your family’s eye health and medical history means you can discuss any hereditary conditions you might be at risk of developing with our optometrist. This will allow them to tailor your eye exam to include specific tests, for example advanced retinal scans like our 3D OCT scan.
4. Try contact lenses
It’s never too late to try something new, including contact lenses! They’re a great alternative to glasses if you’re into sports like running, cycling or football, giving you unobstructed, panoramic vision to really boost your performance. Wearing lenses means you won’t have to constantly adjust your glasses, especially during high intensity sports, or worry about potentially damaging or breaking them.
5. Update your eyewear wardrobe
The new year is also a great opportunity to refresh your eyewear wardrobe! Whether you’re looking for a casual, everyday look, or something more on the glamorous side, you’ll be sure to find the perfect pair from our collections of carefully curated eyewear.
We’ve sourced unique frame ranges from all over the world for you, including the luxury brands Hublot, DITA, Mr Leight, Tom Davies and many more. With so much choice available and our expert dispensing optician on hand, it’s never been easier to transform your style with glasses and sunglasses that you truly love to wear!
There you have it – our top eyecare and eyewear tips to see you through 2021! Remember, that as your independent opticians in Cobham, we are classed as an essential business so will remain open throughout the pandemic. Feel free to contact us for advice, to book an eye exam, or a complimentary frame styling consultation today.