Look at You

They say that our eyes are the windows to our soul. In my 8 years of being a nurse, I believe that this is true. Sometimes, I can look into the eyes of my patients and see their pain or their joy. You can look at your enemies' eyes and see anger or to your husband's and see love. Ours eyes tell stories that even we ourselves don't know how to say. Our eyes makes us see the beauty around us and help us appreciate life. Thus, I think that it is important that we highlight this special feature and learn to take care of our eyes.

I am guilty as charged when it comes to neglecting my eyes. I spend a lot of time in front of the computer, doing my blog or just simply watching my favorite series. I don't put on eye creams because I am too lazy or sometimes I find them to be so expensive. I have been an eyeglass wearer since my 4th year in high school and I have worn contact lenses as well. Recently, I had my eyes checked and my optometrist told me that I should try to avoid wearing my contact lens for now as I seem to be having dry eyes. I bought a new pair of spectacles from shop The Lens Men located in Parkway Parade and they provided a really good service. Click on the link to locate them and try out their classy and trendy glasses.

So how do we take care of our eyes? I have curated a short list of easy ways by which we can protect our eyes and make them shine even more.

1. Eat for Good Vision Protecting your eyes starts with the food on your plate. Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E might help ward off age-related vision problems as told by studies. Examples of which are:

# Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collards # Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish # Eggs, nuts, beans, and other non-meat protein sources # Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices # Oysters and pork

Eating well can also lead to better health and prevention of diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus which can lead to blindness.

2. Quit Smoking It was my choice not to smoke despite the peer pressure I had during my teenage years. I just never tried it but my father smokes and he still does. I understand that it is hard to quit smoking. It is a choice and cannot be really implied on somebody. There must be a motivation for the person to stop smoking. If you've tried to quit smoking before and started smoking again, keep trying. The more times you try to quit smoking, the more likely you are to succeed. Smoking increases the risk for cataracts, optic nerve damage, and macular degeneration.

3. Wear Sunglasses Not just any sunglasses, the right kind of sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Choose something stylish but don't forget the fact that it is also a protection and not just an accessory.

If you wear contact lenses, some offer UV protection. It's still a good idea to wear sunglasses for more protection, though.

4. Use Safety Eyewear If you work with hazardous or airborne materials on the job or at home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles every time. Accidents might happen which can cause injury to your eye so it is better to be safe than sorry.

5. Look Away From the Computer Screen In this world of facebook, instagram and snapchat, it is very difficult to avoid looking at our cellphones or computers simply because it has become a part of lives. But fret not, follow these steps to make sure that our eyes are still protected despite our social media.

a. Make sure your glasses or contact lens prescription is up-to-date and adequate for computer use. b. Some people may need glasses to help with contrast, glare, and eye strain when using a computer. c. Position your computer so that your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. This allows you to look slightly down at the screen. d. Try to avoid glare on your computer from windows and lights. Use an anti-glare screen if needed. e. Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position it so that your feet are flat on the floor. f. If your eyes are dry, blink more. g. Every 20 minutes, rest your eyes by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

h. At least every 2 hours, get up and take a 15-minute break.

6. Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly

Even though you are still young, regular visits to your eye doctor is still a must. This will help prevent correct problems early and find any underlying disease when they are still easier to treat.

We should never neglect our eyes or even our body as a whole. Like things, we also undergo wear and tear and in time, we may not be able to reverse it. Our eyes tell a lot about us and it plays a big role in our daily task. So next time you look at yourself in the mirror, smile, cause you are able to see beauty.

Note: Tips are taken from http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/good-eyesight

#thelensmen #spectacles #eyes