To better care for your eyes, consider these 9 tips that put the focus back on eye health:

1. Schedule an exam
Taking care of your eyes is a good idea no matter what, but it’s also important to have a professional regularly check your vision and eye health. Regular checkups can help detect diseases and conditions that cause vision loss and blindness. Many don't show symptoms in the early stages. Scheduling an eye exam is easy. Eye care specialists in communities throughout the Columbia River Gorge can help you create a care plan to keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear.   

Hood River
Indian Creek Family Eye Care - 541-386-1700
Cascade Eye Center - Hood River - 541-386-2402
OHSU Casey Eye Institute Clinic - Hood River - 541-386-1399
The Eyeglass Store - 541-386-3937
Hood River Vision Clinic - 541-386-5700   

Stevenson
Stevenson Family Eye Care - 509-427-2020

The Dalles 
Cascade Eye Center - The Dalles - 541-296-1101
Mid Columbia Vision Center - 541-296-2911
OHSU Casey Eye Institute Clinic - The Dalles - 541-298-5144

White Salmon
White Salmon Eye Care - 509-493-2020

Troutdale
Troutdale Vision Clinic - 503-492-3897
EyeHealth Northwest - Troutdale Office - 503-255-2291

Camas
Camas Vision Centre - 360-834-2063
Vancouver Vision Clinic in Camas - 360-834-4802

2. Understand your family history
Genetics can play a major role in eye health, so talk to family members about their vision history. If anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition that impacts their eyesight, knowing can help determine if you are at a higher risk for developing a hereditary trait.

3. Use proper lighting
 

While there are many simple ways to maintain eye health and function, reducing eyestrain is a straightforward way to take care of your sight.

According to an online survey conducted by Russell Research, three out of four Americans suffer daily from eyestrain. Many people don't realize the lighting they use at work and at home can contribute to the problem.

Using indoor lighting such as the OttLite Wellness Series, a line of lamps that closely matches the spectrum of natural daylight can reduce eye fatigue and eyestrain by 51 percent. The line includes stylish models with ClearSun LED technology, high-quality diffusers for clear illumination, and multiple brightness settings. These features help reduce eyestrain by providing “good” lighting, which means providing enough natural daylight-quality illumination to see clearly without being blinded by overly high light levels or glare.

The lamps also feature adjustable necks and shades to help direct light and fully illuminate an intended area and adjust for glare from reflective surfaces. Smart features like USB ports conveniently charge your devices. Find more information at OttLite.com.

4. Clean contact lenses
If you wear contacts, be sure to clean and rinse the lenses each time you wear and remove them from your eyes. Use cleaners approved by your eye doctor, and don’t wear lenses longer than recommended.

5. Maintain overall health
A healthy lifestyle can have a positive impact on your eye health. Maintaining a healthy weight can help avoid risks like diabetes, which can lead to vision loss from diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids provides nutrition for healthy eyes.

6. Wear sunglasses
Overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration and blurred vision. It’s important to protect the eyes from harmful UV rays when you’re outside. Wear sunglasses that block out 99-100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation.

7. Shield your eyes
While sunglasses help block out the sun, protective eyewear like safety glasses and goggles can help shield the eyes while doing yard work or playing sports. Use safety glasses matched to your activity.

8. Limit evening screen time
The blue light from traditional lighting and electronics (TV, cell phones, computers, tablets) used before bed may disrupt sleep patterns and circadian rhythm. It may even lead to sleep disorders, depression, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Reducing exposure to blue light to one or two hours before sleep and using night mode or screen dimming can help you sleep better and feel more comfortable.

According to an American Academy of Ophthalmology report, blue light blocking glasses, sometimes called computer glasses, haven't been proven to be of benefit. However, some anti-glare coatings for corrective lenses can help block your exposure to both UV rays and glare, which can, in turn, improve your vision and reduce eye strain. 

9. Take a break
Your eyes work hard when you put extended focus on a computer screen or other activity. Take periodic breaks to avoid eye fatigue. Try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, shift your gaze to something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Also, be sure you're sitting 25 inches, about an arm's length away from the computer screen, and tilt it down slightly to reduce glare. 

Blinking provides mini-breaks for your eyes, but when you're focusing on something, your blink rate can drop by half. Blinking helps lubricate the eye's surface. If the surface isn't lubricated, eyes can become uncomfortable. Adding artificial tears may help. 

Optimal Eye Health

Your eyes are your window to the world. Protecting your eye health is an essential part of your overall wellbeing. Symptoms like headaches and drowsiness can be signs of eyestrain. Issues like poor lighting or glare may cause a feeling of discomfort.

Keep your eyes in optimal condition and avoid problems like eyestrain by ensuring you’re using proper lighting in your home and workspaces. Natural daylight renders colors most accurately and offsets the potential mood and energy level impact that occurs when you cannot perceive colors correctly.

When natural light isn’t practical while working at a desk or reading inside, use lamps that simulate natural light and have a high Color Rendering Index. The OttLite Wellness Series lamps use diffusers to evenly distribute illumination and protect against glare. They are fitted with user-friendly dimmable options to control light levels. To find more information, visit OttLite.com.

Don’t Skip the Eye Doctor
If you’re having trouble with your vision, set up an appointment with an eye doctor. These symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control, are reasons to see a doctor as soon as possible:

• Eye pain
• Decreased vision
• Double vision
• Draining
• Redness
• Flashes of light
• Floaters, or tiny specks that appear to float
• Halos appearing around lights

(Main image Eye Exam photo courtesy of Getty Images)

Article sponsored by OttLite

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