Top Tips this Valentines for healthy eyes, love your eyes!
This Valentines why not share some of the love in the air with your eyes. Top Tips this Valentines below to keep your eyes healthy:
- Have regular eye examinations, at least every two years. There are many underlying health conditions which sight tests can help identify.
- Stop smoking! It is never too late to stop smoking. Smoking can also significantly increase the risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, amongst other things.
- Eat healthily. Try to include at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables for the many vitamins they include. Eat omega-3 rich foods which can be found in oily fish. Finally try to include lutein which can be found in dark green leafy vegetables.
- If you have prescribed glasses please wear them - they help your eyes work more efficiently and do not make your eyesight worse contrary to popular myth.
- Wears sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV light. Exposure to UV in children is especially harmful.
- Rest your eyes. In the technology powered world we live in we are increasingly using computers, tablets and smart phones for close up work. Ensure you blink consistently to avoid your eyes drying out and, as a guide, every twenty minutes look away from your screen for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid letting your eyes dry out. Central heating, air-conditioning and computer use, along with health conditions and medications can lead to dry eyes. Drink plenty of water and blink often. If you do suffer from dry eyes tell your optometrist.
- Check your family history. Many eye conditions run in the family so knowing your family history can help identify conditions before they become serious.
Your optometrist is always the first person to visit if you have eye concerns.
Information sourced from the Association of Optometrists www.aop.org.uk
Our Valentine's press release....
Partners Snubbed in Favour of Modern Technology
As many people across Lincolnshire are set to snuggle up with their loved ones this Valentine's Day research has revealed that 50 per cent of the UK population would rather 'kiss' their mobile phone or tablet good night rather than their partner.
Research by Sight Care, the UK support network for independent opticians, has shown that only one in eight people say good night to their partner after switching off their latest piece of modern technology, with the majority of people looking at their mobile device before nodding off to sleep.
With the ever-increasing technological advances taking up more and more of our personal time, opticians Molsom & Associates in Spalding is encouraging lovebirds to take a break from their much loved devices this Valentine's Day and focus their attention on their true loved ones.
Furthermore, 1 in 8 people say their partner spends more time using their phone than talking to them. With over a third of people texting or emailing during a face to face conversation and over a quarter keeping an eye fixed on their phone to check for incoming messages during activities such as having a romantic dinner.
Andy Molsom, owner of Molsom & Associates said: "Smartphones, I Pads and e-readers hold an increasingly important part in many people's lifestyles and it is easy to overlook the people that we see on a daily basis. Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to treat your loved one to quality time together without being interrupted by a phone whilst also giving your eyes a well-deserved rest from constant screen viewing.
"The research uncovers that eyes are the number one attraction for a new partner (48 per cent are attracted to eyes over other body features) with this in mind, we are urging people to take greater care of their eye health. Any interaction with a digital device that requires sustained concentration will cause the inner eye muscle to tighten, prompting eye strain in some cases. As a result the eyes can become irritated, dry and uncomfortable. People may even suffer from blurred vision and headaches, both symptoms of short-sightedness."
Acknowledging the effects of the constant use of technology, Molsom & Associates is encouraging people to book an eye exam to identify any potential problems and seek advice about how best too manage the usage to ensure optimal eye health.
Research for Sight Care was carried out by Opinion Matters in 2013 with a sample of 1,571 UK respondents.