Welcoa Well Balanced: How to Protect and Maintain Eye Health

-


When it comes to eye health many adults mistakenly believe that as long as nothing is bothering their eyes, there’s no need to get them checked out. However, getting regular eye exams is very important, even if you think your vision is fine. Eye exams allow an eye care professional to monitor your eyes for common vision problems and signs of disease. There aren’t early warning signs for the most common eye diseases, so by identifying diseases early, you have the best treatment options and the best chance of preserving good vision.

If you haven’t had an eye exam in more than a year or at all, schedule one now. A comprehensive exam will often include eye dilation. After checking your vision sharpness, your doctor will place drops in your eyes to dilate (widen) the dark center of your eyes, called the pupil. This allows more light into your eyes, just like opening a door lets light into a dark room. The doctor can then examine the inside of your eyes. Your eye doctor will talk to you about the results of the exam and may prescribe glasses or other treatments. They’ll also let you know when you should come back for another exam.

Pro Tips to Protect Your Peepers 

Healthy habits that protect your overall health can also go a long way to protect your eye health. These include not smoking, eating a healthy diet (especially dark leafy greens like spinach or kale), and maintaining a healthy weight. Also, know your family’s history with eye health problems. Certain diseases can run in families. Additionally, there are simple steps you can take every day to keep your eyes healthy. Use these tips to protect your eyes from things that can harm them. 

Wear sunglasses, even on cloudy days. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can damage your eyes. Wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation every time you go outside. 

Take eye breaks. People of all ages are spending more time focused on digital screens, giving their eyes a marathon of a workout every day. Rest your eyes by taking a break every 20 minutes to look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 

Practice good hygiene. Always wash your hands before you put your contact lenses in or take them out. Be sure to disinfect your contact lenses and replace them regularly.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Developing a Workout Routine

-
Image
Developing a routine when working out is important for achieving fitness goals and protecting your body from injury. Below are some tips and tools on developing the perfect workout routine. Use these tips to customize a workout routine that works for you! Tip 1: Consistency Building a strong fitness routine does not happen overnight. You must develop a process and work at it regularly. Decide how many days you are going to work out each week and commit to fitting it into your schedule. Tip 2: Recover Your muscles need time to recover to completely benefit from your physical efforts. When creating your routine, make sure there are days for rest! You do not have to remain completely inactive on recovery days. Long walks, light yoga and casual swimming are all things that get your body moving while still allowing time for your muscles to recoup. Tip 3: Variety Consistency is important when you are thinking about duration and frequency of exercise. Variety is import
Read more

Are You Health Smart Online & On Your Phone?

-
Image
It's hard to deny that more people than ever are turning to the Internet for instant access to information on any topic. From surfing the net to downloading an app, the opportunities are endless when it comes to finding out information about how to manage your health. According to recent research, approximately eighty percent of Americans have, at some point in their life, searched for health information online. This statistic makes it the 3rd most popular web-based activity of Internet users! The problem, however, is that only fifteen percent of those individuals actually check whether or not the information they are reading is from a credible source or if it is current, up-to-date information. Why is checking your source a big deal? Because anyone - even your next door neighbor who knows nothing about health and wellness - could post health information on the Internet. Just because you find health information on the Internet does NOT mean it's factual information. How
Read more

How to Build a Low Cost Home Gym

-
Image
So many of us wish we could get more use out of our gym memberships, but with hectic lives and unpredictable schedules, it's not always so easy. If you find it too hard to get out of your house every day for a workout, why not bring the gym to you? Creating a gym in your home can save time and money -- there's no need to own the same heavy, expensive equipment found at a standard gym. You may be surprised at how easy it is to tailor a home gym to fit you personal needs. All you need are a few tangible pieces and a motivational vibe! Below are five necessities to start building your home gym. Atmosphere: Think about what you like most about the gym and figure out how to bring some of that atmosphere to your own space. If natural light is a must have for you, find a space upstairs with great windows to create the look you want. If you like to watch TV while you sweat, set up your gym in a room that has screen access. Need a little visual motivation? Try something simple like
Read more

Tips from Mental Health America: Look Around, Look Within: Your surroundings say a lot about your mental health

-
Image
  Take a moment to consider your surroundings. Do you feel safe? Do you have access to health care and grocery stores? Does your home support you, both physically and mentally? This Mental Health Month, challenge yourself to look at your world and how different factors can affect your mental health. Where a person is born, lives, learns, works, plays, and gathers, as well as their economic stability and social connections, are part of what is called “social determinants of health” (SDOH). The more these factors work in your favor means you are more likely to have better mental well-being. However, when it seems like the world is working against you, your mental health can suffer. While many parts of your environment can be out of your control, there are steps you can take to change your space and protect your well-being. • Work toward securing safe and stable housing: This can be challenging due to finances, age, and other reasons, but there are a few things you can try, such as reachi
Read more

Quarter 1 ends in 3 days!

-
Image
Have you checked to see if your points are in?! The quarter ends on a weekend this time, so you have today and tomorrow to finish logging your activities. Now's a great time to make sure you've maximized the categories because Double Points may help you reach your goal! Here are some reminders: You can earn 50 points for watching a media video once per month. You can log preventive care appointments and vaccines under My Care Checklist (found under the Health tab) You can backtrack Healthy Habits and Challenges by clicking the gray back arrow  You can earn 200 points for creating a personal challenge and 100 for joining a personal challenge Click Home --> Rewards --> and scroll down to Participation to log events, nutrition planning, and additional health visits You can log a LiveWell event (Stop, Drop and Move or Let's Do Lunch, etc) for 400 points three times each quarter for a total of 1200 points.  You can log a work skills class or finance webinar (Empower, CAP
Read more

April is National Stress Awareness Month

-
Image
April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month , bringing attention to the negative impact of stress. Stress management is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Having the skills to manage your stress can improve mental and physical well-being. Knowing how to recognize what stress and anxiety look like, can be an effective step in building resilience and knowing where to go for help. Use Mental Health America’s (MHA) Stress Screener to learn tips on how to recognize and reduce stress. What can supervisors do to help reduce workplace stress ? Approve flexible hours Support telecommuting Encourage the use of paid time off Empower employees to take care of their health Provide resources and support Ask employees what they need Join the BeWell@Work Wellness Webinar: Tuning in to You: Enhancing Mental Wellness Literacy When: May 2 nd , 2024 Time: 11:00 a.m. Register In partnership with Sunshine Silver Lining, join Blue Cross VT fo
Read more