Eye wellness is a critical factor for our general well-being, but unfortunately, most people just take it for granted until it’s too late. But with nearly 100% percent of today’s global workforce spending an average of 5-8 hours a day in a hazardous environment or in front of a computer, the need to protect the eyes has never been greater.

Eye strain can cause a number of undesirable issues such as headaches, nausea, dry eyes, and so on. So, let’s have a look at some of the preventive measures you can take in order to protect your eyes for long term damage.

1. Anti-glare Protection

Surprisingly, glare is one of the most common causes for eye damage, and can come from brightly colored or glossy surfaces, industrial tools, or just a regular computer screen. Your best bet against glare is to use anti-glare glasses or fit an anti-glare screen on to your computer’s monitor.

2. Appropriate Lighting

Another cause for bad eyesight is insufficient lighting, causing heavy strain on the eyes as they try adjusting. Eye strain often results from excessive bright light entering your room through the windows or from particularly harsh indoor lighting. Covering the windows during peak hours of the day also reduces the excess natural light from entering a room or cabin.

3. Safety Eyewear

Whether you work in a hazardous environment, or are dealing with a bright monitor, wearing the appropriate safety eyewear or goggles will ensure your eyes are protected against any mishaps. Safety goggles come with a wide range of features, including bullet proofing!

4. Yoga

It is said that over 35% of the world’s population suffers from varying degrees of myopia and hypermetropia. But specific forms of yoga are said to help improve the functions of specific organs, including the eyes. There are a number of yogic eye exercises that you can perform to improve eye function and overcome a number of problems. Watch video for Ashtanga Yoga exercises.

5. Quit Smoking

That’s right; smoking is so bad that it even affects your eyesight. Smoking increases the eye’s chances of contracting a cataract, or making them more susceptible to optic nerve damage. So if you’re a smoker, you just got one more reason to quit!

6. Happiness

Just as it affects the rest of the human body, happiness can also play a critical role in eye wellness. Being happy is fantastic for your eyesight, as well as your general being, and can be derived from anything that puts you into a happy state. Spending time with loved ones or friends & creating positive memories can also add to one’s subconscious happiness. Apart from eye wellness, happiness also boosts confidence and self-esteem, and can lead to a general feeling of bliss.

Playing with your pet, scratching their belly, watching a favorite film, reading a fantastic magazine or book, socializing with family and friends, engaging in a hobby or doing something special for yourself are some examples that can make you happy.

7. Eye Exams

As per American Optometric Association it is recommended to get a comprehensive eye exam every two years for adults ages 18 to 60, and annual exams for seniors age 61 and older. For children, the recommendation is to get a first eye exam at 6 months of age, another exam at age three and again at the start of school. Risk-free children should then continue to have their eyes examined every two years until age 18.

To get more info related to Eye Wellness visit: www.preventblindness.org

Written by Benjamin Roussey for bodono.

Benjamin Roussey is from Sacramento, CA. He has two master’s degrees and served four years in the US Navy. His bachelor’s degree is from CSUS (1999) where he was on a baseball pitching scholarship. He has an MBA in Global Management from the Univ. of Phoenix (2006) where he attributes his writing prowess. He has worked everywhere from small businesses to large corporations, and also for public agencies. He has lived in Korea and Saudi Arabia where he was an ESL instructor. He misses Saudi food and living in Korea. Benjamin has a tremendous work ethic and is quite focused. Now he writes professionally for several clients that covers one sector of our economy to another. Currently he lives in the Phoenix area after living in Cabo San Lucas, MX for 3 years. He enjoys sports, movies, reading, and current events when he is not working.