Believe it or not, 2020 is officially here and we can’t think of a better year for you to start setting clear goals for your eye health!
Did you know the only organ more complex than the eye is the brain and that 80% of all learning comes through our eyes?
We often take our eyes for granted and put our eye health on the backburner. We see our primary doctor and see our dentist, but we typically don’t see our optometrist until there is a problem.
Below is a 2020 checklist we’ve put together to help you get back on track with your eye health in the new year!
1. Get Covered
First and foremost, if your vision insurance expired at the end of 2019, be sure to renew your plan for the new year or find a new one that works for you!
Most insurance covers eye exams, glasses, and even contact lenses. Make it a priority this month to learn about the different options available to you so you can be covered in 2020.
2. Set Up Your Annual Eye Exam
When was the last time you had an eye exam?
It’s a common misconception that eye exams are only for people who have known vision problems. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most eye care professionals agree that everyone should have a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years whether or not they have any known eye health problems.
However, depending on your age, risk factors and whether or not you currently wear eyeglasses, you likely need to go more often than this.
A regular eye exam helps you stay healthy by detecting problems and changes before they start. After all, prevention is the best treatment!
3. Update Your Eyewear
When was the last time you had an eye exam?
It’s a common misconception that eye exams are only for people who have known vision problems. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most eye care professionals agree that everyone should have a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years whether or not they have any known eye health problems.
However, depending on your age, risk factors and whether or not you currently wear eyeglasses, you likely need to go more often than this.
A regular eye exam helps you stay healthy by detecting problems and changes before they start. After all, prevention is the best treatment!
4. Refresh Your Diet
We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again. Good nutrition plays a major role in your eye health! Make sure you are including dark leafy greens like spinach, kale and collard greens in your weekly diet.
When making your weekly shopping list, aim for meals high in Omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon and tuna) and foods that are rich in antioxidants like vitamins A and C.
5. Exercise
There really is no downside to exercise! A good exercise routine benefits our physical and even our mental health.
Why? Exercise improves blood circulation which improves oxygen levels to the eyes and the removal of toxins. Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight decreases the risk of developing eye health issues as you age.
6. Quit Smoking
No surprise here! Smoking is harmful to almost every organ in your body, including your eyes.
The consistent habit of smoking cigarettes has been linked to an increased risk of developing age-related eye issues as well as a long list of health problems that impact the rest of your body.
If you’re still smoking in 2020, make it your New Year’s resolution to quit this year.
7. Upgrade Your Lighting
From the minute we wake up until the minute we go to sleep, we are exposed to artificial lighting everywhere we turn. While artificial lighting has come with many benefits, it also has major downsides to our health, from negatively affecting our sleep schedule to limiting our productivity during the day.
Artificial light exposes us to harmful blue light, causing consistent eye strain, blurred vision, and headaches, and has also been known to worsen conditions such as prediabetes, rickets and multiple sclerosis.
Dr. Lite provides a premier range of medical-grade lamps that offer the most balanced spectrum of light to keep your eyes happy and healthy in the new year.
Let 2020 be the year you put your vision health into focus! Are you with us?
