Protecting Your Eye Health
Regular Eye Exams
If you are working a job such as welder or lab technician that involves hazards that can potentially cause damage to your eyes, it is important that you visit your eye doctor for regular comprehensive eye exams to ensure you are seeing your best and that your eyes are healthy. By visiting your eye doctor regularly, you will have the assurance that your vision is in tip-top shape to perform your job accurately. If your optometrist notices a change in your vision, they will be able to develop a personalized treatment plan that may include glasses or contacts to help you see your best and to prevent your vision from deteriorating too quickly.
Eat Well
You may have heard that eating carrots helps improve your vision. Although this is not wrong, there are many other foods you can eat to ensure your vision is sharp. Other foods that can help your vision include dark, leafy vegetables and fish that are high in omega 3 fatty acids such as salmon, halibut, and tuna. Also, when you are at work, remember to wash your hands thoroughly before handling your contact lenses and ensure you are cleaning your lenses correctly to avoid the risk of infection.
Eye Injury Protection
Before you start your day at work, ensure you make yourself aware of all of the potential hazards in your work area. Clear your workspace of potential hazards such as protruding pipes, wires, or other objects hanging from ceilings. Where there is a risk of eye injury, ensure you are also wearing protective eyewear. Most work-related eye injuries can be prevented by wearing the correct protective eyewear. Some examples of protective eyewear include:
- Non-prescription and prescription safety glasses
- Goggles
- Face shields
- Welding helmets
- Full-face respirators
- Eye guards
Ensure you inspect your plastic visors and goggles/glasses lenses to make sure they are free of scratches or holes that could affect your ability to see through them. If you work in the sun or work a job where you are exposed to ultraviolet radiation, you should be using appropriate eye protection that blocks this radiation from harming your eyes.
Digital Eye Strain
Even if you are not a welder or involved in trades, you are still at risk of harming your eye health and vision even in an office setting. Working on your computer or handheld device for long periods of time can make you susceptible to digital eye strain. Without blinking regularly and staring too long at a screen you can suffer from dry eyes, headaches, and even blurry vision. To help reduce the effects of digital eye strain follow these tips:
- Enlarge the text size on your computer screen and phone
- Position your screen directly in front of you about an arm's distance length away
- Remember to blink often
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule where every twenty-minute you look up away from your screen and focus on an object twenty feet away for twenty seconds.
Eye Emergencies NE Calgary
Your eyes are one of the most important yet vulnerable parts of your body. With some extra care and diligent eye-protective strategies, you can prevent injury and strain on your eyes to help you preserve your vision for years to come. One of the most important ways to protect your vision is by visiting your eye doctor regularly. Your optometrist will be able to detect any eye health concerns before you begin noticing symptoms which will help you preserve your vision for longer and help you perform your job better with clear vision.
To learn more about how you can better protect your eyes in the workplace or if you need to book an eye exam to check the quality of your vision, contact Sunridge Eye Clinic. Our experienced optometrists can assess your vision and develop a personal treatment plan to help you see clearly. Book a comprehensive or senior eye exam today by calling 1-403-280-7518 or book online.
FAQ
Q: How often should I visit the eye doctor for a comprehensive exam?
A: Adults aged 18-64 are recommended to visit their eye doctor bi-annually. Adults over the age of 65 are recommended to get an exam performed annually.
Q: How long is a comprehensive eye exam?
A: A comprehensive eye exam will last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the tests performed by your optometrist.
Q: Does Sunridge Eye Clinic handle eye emergencies?
A: Yes, we do. If you are suffering from an eye emergency, contact our clinic by calling 1-403-280-7518.
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