How your lifestyle affects your eyes

Our eye health can be affected by several habits, from nutrition and physical activity to stress levels and screen time. A healthy balanced lifestyle can help prevent many symptoms of eye fatigue.

Nutrition

An unbalanced diet can cause eye fatigue, since, just like our bodies, our eyes need energy. That’s why it’s important to have balanced, vitamin-rich meals:

• Vitamin A plays an important role in keeping our retinas and night vision in working condition. It’s found in carrots, fish, squash and many other foods.
• Vitamin E, known as the youthfulness vitamin, helps protect the eyes from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is found in corn and peanuts in particular.
• Vitamin C, commonly associated with citrus, can help fend off cataracts.

Physical health

Just as with nutrition, being in healthy shape is better for your eyes. A good night’s sleep and regular exercise can help reduce stress, the enemy of healthy organs. In winter, we often turn to indoor sports to avoid the cold. However, fresh air is also essential as air conditioning can contribute to dry eyes. In addition to your workout, go outside for 10 minutes a day to enjoy all the health benefits of sunshine and nature.

Too much screen time

After we spend a workday in front of a computer, our eyes are usually tired or dry. While you may not want to change jobs for this reason alone, you can still take care of your eyes by giving them a five to ten-minute break for every two hours of screen time. Remember to blink regularly as well, to keep your eyes hydrated.

Smoking

On average, a smoker is seven times more likely to suffer from eye disease than a non-smoker. Plus, cigarette smoke dries out the eyes and increases eye fatigue. Unfortunately, quitting this bad habit is not easy. Many organizations exist to help smokers achieve this goal. Don’t hesitate to call one of them if you need help.

If you have more questions, an Opto-Réseau team will be happy to help. Find your nearest clinic here.