5 Tips for “Save Your Vision” Month

Each March, we celebrate Save Your Vision Month! During Save Your Vision Month, the American Optometric Association encourages eye care professionals to raise awareness regarding eye health and we’d like to invite you to make an appointment with one of our eye care specialists in Mesa and Chandler to check the health of your eyes.

And, during this month, it is incredibly important to remember to promptly take care of any issues that arise and may impact your vision. Swagel Wootton Eye Institute is a premier provider of cataract and LASIK surgery in Arizona and is here to help!

We have provided some tips to help you safeguard your vision:

1. Get Your Eyes Checked

This may seem obvious if you already make eye health a priority. Unfortunately, many people ignore their eyes unless they sting, itch, or burn. Keeping your prescription updated can help you see more clearly and preserve the health of your eyes. Some common eye disorders and diseases do not have symptoms until the condition advances enough to do irreparable damage. So, be sure to check in with our eye doctors at Swagel Wootton Eye Institute.

2. Eat Foods That Promote Eye Health

Eating a well-balanced diet packed with nutrients benefits your whole body. However, there are many foods that can particularly help keep your eyes bright and healthy, including the following:

• Spinach
• Citrus Fruits
• Salmon
• Carrots
• Melons
• Broccoli

These superfoods keep your eyes strong and working well. For example, salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids which can help prevent age-related macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome. Carrots and spinach are vegetable superheroes that contain high amounts of lutein and vitamin A — both of which are crucial for keeping your cornea strong and possibly preventing blindness. You can also try supplements packed with nutrients that improve overall eye health.

3. Take a Break from the Computer

Your eyes are sensitive to light. So, when you spend too much time in front of the smartphone, television or computer, it can negatively affect your vision. Although digital eye strain is a fairly recent condition, it can have a big impact on your eyes.

Step away from the screen every 10 to 20 minutes and focus on an object in the distance or close your eyes to let them rest. You can also install a filter that imitates natural light or try glasses designed to filter out bright light coming from electronic displays.

By increasing the font size on your computer or smartphone, you can make it easier for your eyes to read without straining. This can prevent headaches due to eye strain.

4. Wear Eye Protection

Whether you play contact sports, garden, or face hazardous conditions at work, protect your eyes with the proper gear. For example, basketball and baseball players can wear eye goggles to help prevent injury from eye contact with the ball or another player’s elbows.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, sunglasses that filter out UV rays can prevent getting a sunburn in your eyes or damaging your light-sensitive retina.

5. Stop Smoking

The surgeon general warning on cigarette packs doesn’t cover the damage they can do to your eyes. The truth is cigarettes can destroy your vision. Smoking contributes to cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and a number of other eye disorders. So, if you have to decide between a bad habit and preserving your vision, isn’t the choice obvious?

We hope you’ll utilize these tips to protect your vision year-round. You can count on our eye care specialists in Mesa and Chandler to provide compassionate care and attention when you need us the most. Contact us if you’re concerned about your eyes or to discuss a procedure such as cataract or LASIK surgery in Arizona.