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Rules of Eye Safety: Tips to Remember and Follow

Medically reviewed by Victor Paulino, MD, DPBO · Ophthalmology · Makati Medical Center


Written by Hazel Caingcoy · Updated May 24, 2021

    Rules of Eye Safety: Tips to Remember and Follow

    If you were to rank the five senses according to their level of importance, the sense of sight is probably at the top of that list. Our ability to see is what allows us to function daily. Being able to see our surroundings helps us understand the world we live in. There is no denying that our sense of sight is important and we must protect it at all cost. And in line with that, there are rules of eye safety that are not practiced by many people. 

    Rules of Eye Safety: A Helpful Guide

    Practicing these rules of eye safety reduce our chances of developing ocular diseases and it can also slow down the unavoidable aging of our eyes.

    Here’s what you can do.

    Eat a Balanced Diet

    When we are not getting enough nutrition, our bodily functions suffer, including the eyes. A deficiency in Vitamin B12 can cause damage to the optic nerve. Diabetic retinopathy is a disease wherein high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels on the back of the eye. Doctors advise including food rich in Omega 3 such as nuts, fish, and dark leafy vegetables.

    Stay Hydrated

    The majority of our eyes are made up of water. If the body is dehydrated, not enough water is supplied to the eyes. When we are dehydrated, one can experience eye strain, double vision, and headaches. Dry eye, a condition wherein not enough tears nourish the eye, can also occur when we are dehydrated. Symptoms of dry eye include irritation and feeling that there is a foreign object in the eye,

    Avoid Smoking

    Smoking does a lot of harm to the eyes. The smoke itself can cause the eyes to dry. Chemicals in cigarettes are linked to various ocular diseases. Smoking increases your risk of developing cataracts, optic nerve damage, and macular degeneration.

    Wear Protective Eye Wear

    If you work at a construction site, hospital, or laboratory use eyewear that can protect your eyes. Protective eyewear varies depending on where you are at. Getting a foreign object or chemicals in your eyes can lead to serious damage that can result in blindness.

    Wear Sunglasses

    Ultraviolet light is linked to a lot of ocular diseases. A very common example is cataracts. Ultraviolet rays harden the lens over time, causing an inability of the lens to focus light on the retina. When light is not focused on the retina, it causes blurred vision and eventually blindness.

    Other eye diseases linked to ultraviolet light include photokeratitis, pinguecula, pterygium, and macular degeneration. Make sure to wear sunglasses especially if you are staying under the heat of the sun all day.

    Get Your Eyes Checked

    Even if you do not have any vision impairments as of the moment, get a baseline eye disease screening and other vision tests at least once a year. This allows for early detection of any degenerative diseases in the eye. Macular degeneration in its early stages does not cause any type of blurred vision and would only manifest signs once it is almost beyond treatment.

    Rest Your Eyes

    We spend a lot of our time on screens. Spending a lot of time on our computers and cell phones dry and strain the eyes. To reduce any stress on the eyes, follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away and look straight ahead at a 20 feet distance and allow your eyes to rest for about 2 minutes.

    Preventing Eye Strain: The 20-20-20 Rule Reminder

    Wear Prescribed Glasses

    It is a common myth that wearing glasses can worsen your vision. Wearing glasses does not worsen vision; it helps you see more clearly and prevent eye strain. As we age, our eyes will deteriorate. We will have vision problems whether we avoid glasses or not. Wearing glasses can reduce stress in the eyes and it might also prevent further damage.

    Practice Good Eye Hygiene

    When putting something on the eyes such as contact lenses and eyelash extensions, make sure to wash your hands and avoid touching the eyes directly. At the end of the day, make sure to remove anything that is on your eye including makeup. Dirty hands, contaminated contact lenses, and makeup can lead to bacteria and fungi to grow in the eye.

    To maintain good vision, it is good to keep in mind the rules of eye safety. Our eyes help us navigate through this world. Let us do our best to keep them healthy.

    Key Takeaways

    Our eyes are undeniably one of the most important sense organs. We must keep them healthy. We can keep our eyes healthy by eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, wearing protective eyewear, avoiding too much ultraviolet light, and avoiding smoking. Having your eyes checked annually and practicing good hygiene can significantly lower the risk of ocular diseases. 

    Learn more about Eye Care here. 

    Disclaimer

    Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

    Medically reviewed by

    Victor Paulino, MD, DPBO

    Ophthalmology · Makati Medical Center


    Written by Hazel Caingcoy · Updated May 24, 2021

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