Eat Healthily

In general when it comes to “healthy living” I’m a firm believer of ‘everything in moderation’, particularly when it comes to food (and drink!). Try to maintain a healthy, balanced diet, that includes lots of leafy green vegetables, omega-3 (typically found in oily fish) and antioxidant vitamins like A and C, as a deficiency in these has been linked to an increased risk of both cataract and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Stop Smoking

If you smoke, STOP. Smoking significantly increases the risk of developing cataract and AMD. However long you have smoked, it’s never too late to benefit from quitting and reducing your risk.

Get Enough Sleep

As discussed in yesterday’s “Ignoring Important Signs” post, just as with the rest of the body, tiredness and stress can wreak havoc on our eyes. Everybody’s different, and while some people claim to be able to function on as little as four hours sleep (I’m definitely not one of them!), the general recommendation is to aim for 7-9 hours per night.

Avoid Dry Eyes

With reduced tears eyes become dry and sore. Central heating, air conditioning and computer use, can make it worse. Around 15% of adults over the age of 40 suffer; twice as many women as men. Lubricating eye drops can soothe irritation and reduce discomfort.

Consider Nutritional Supplements

Particularly if you have a family history of AMD. Some are specifically designed for eye health and can found in Opticians, Pharmacies and health shops. Flaxseed and evening primrose oil may also help dry eye sufferers.

So, that was #NationalEyeHealthWeek 2015! Over the past 7 days I have enlightened you with what I think, are the 7 Eye "Sins". I hope you have found them interesting and informative? If you'd like further information on any of the issues discussed, or if you think there's anything I've missed, please don't hesitate to contact me - it would be great to get some feedback!

Take care of those peepers people!