Taking care of your eyes

Keep your eyes healthy and happy by doing the following.

• Have regular eye tests with your OPSM eye hub optometrist. Early detection can often be the best form of protection and treatment. You should have an eye test every two years, but if your vision suddenly changes, see your OPSM eye hub optometrist immediately.
• You slip, slop and slap for your skin, so apply the same philosophy to your eyes. Always wear sunglasses when you’re outdoors, even it’s overcast. UV radiation can get through the clouds and damage your eyes. Check out the SunSmart website for more information.
• What’s good for your body is good for your eyes, so eat a healthy balanced diet and drink plenty of water. A diet high in anti-oxidants and omega oils can reduce the incidence of dry eyes and macular degeneration in older people.
• Give your eyes a break. Don’t spend excessive periods of time using them for specific non-varied work. Keep your eyes happy and well rested by doing the following:
  • Rest your eyes for two or three minutes every 45 - 60 minutes by looking around your working environment.
  • Blink often to moisten your eyes and avoid dryness and irritation.
  • Position any reference material the same distance from your eyes as your computer, so you don't need to re-adjust your focus.
  • Get an anti-reflective coating on your glasses to prevent glare and lens reflections.
  • Make sure light sources are not in your direct line of sight or reflecting off your computer screens.
  • If your eyes get sore and red by the end of the day, have an eye test to rule out any serious reasons for eyestrain.
• Working in a dangerous environment that could give you an eye injury? Don’t take any chances. Wear the proper protective eyewear.
• Wear eye protection when playing specific sports that you know may cause eye injuries.