Eye health
How to keep your eyes healthy
Most of us will experience an eye condition or eye problem at some point. Regular eye health checks are one of the best ways to keep your eyes healthy, because many conditions can be picked up early. Find out about the conditions an eye health check can detect, and what you can do to help your eyes stay healthy.
Regular eye exams
The importance of eye health checks
Knowing how to look after your eyes helps you live life to the full. To keep on top of your eye health, we recommend an eye examination every two years, or more often depending on your age and the health of your eyes. Our eye examinations go beyond a standard sight test: our 3D OCT scans can detect the earliest signs of some of the most common eye conditions.
It’s a common misconception that eye checks are only for adults. Testing your child’s eyes can pick up problems such as lazy eye, which can be treated effectively when found early, and makes sure their vision isn’t holding them back at school.
is how often we recommend an eye examination for most people, or more often if your optometrist advises it.
of learning, in and out of the classroom, relies on good vision. That's why children's eye tests matter.
Family history
Does eye disease run in your family?
Diet, smoking, screen use and UV protection all affect your eye health, but one of the biggest risk factors for many eye conditions is something you can’t control: your genes. Many common eye conditions can run in families, and they often develop gradually without obvious symptoms at first.
A family history of an eye condition doesn’t mean you’ll develop it, but it can increase your risk. Having a parent, brother, sister or grandparent with glaucoma, for example, makes you more likely to develop it yourself. Telling your optometrist about your family’s eye health helps us spot risks earlier, recommend the right monitoring and pick up problems before they affect your sight.
At Opticare, your family eye health history is part of every comprehensive eye examination.
Conditions that can run in families
Questions worth asking your relatives
- Have you ever been diagnosed with glaucoma?
- Do you have macular degeneration?
- Have you had any unexplained sight loss?
- Have you had problems with your retina?
- Did you develop cataracts unusually early?
Everyday habits
How can you look after your eye health?
Good hygiene
Clean around your eyes regularly, and encourage children to do the same from a young age, as trapped dirt can cause infection and inflammation. Always remove make-up before bed, and throw away old skin and make-up products, which can harbour bacteria that irritate your eyes.
Spend time outside
More children are becoming short-sighted. Plenty of time outdoors and less screen time can help slow it down (see myopia control). Staying active matters for adults too, especially over 60, as it lowers the risk of sight loss linked to hardened arteries, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Protect your eyes from the sun
Never look directly at the sun. UV rays can damage the retina, lens and cornea and raise the risk of some eye conditions. Wear sunglasses with proper UV protection when you’re outside.
Cut back on alcohol and smoking
Smokers have a higher risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Drinking in moderation is fine, but heavy drinking has been linked to faster progression of age-related macular degeneration, and can cause red eye and irritation.
Eat well
Your diet affects your eyes more than you might think. Good nutrition may help protect you against conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration later in life.
Speak to us for personalised advice
Whether you’d like general advice or recommendations for your own eyes, our friendly team is here to help. Give your local practice a call, or book an appointment online.