Eyes - Take Care Of Them

To maintain your eyes in the best possible shape, just follow this simple advice.

First, and most importantly of all, have your eyes tested regularly.

Secondly, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Eating foods that contain the right vitamins and minerals is essential in keeping your eyes healthy in the long-term. Eating the proper foods can also help to lower the risk of developing certain eye diseases. Vitamins A, C and E are well-known antioxidants which can help prevent certain eye problems such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Good sources of antioxidants are found in fruits and vegetables particularly in the raw form since many are lost through cooking.

Vitamin A is essential to the proper functioning of the retina and in preventing night blindness. It is not only found in foods like liver and eggs but also in many fruits such as apricots and peaches and vegetables such as carrots and spinach. Nowadays, most types of milk are also fortified with vitamin A.

Vitamin C is an all-encompassing vitamin, strengthening not only our bones and muscles but also our teeth and eyes. It can be found in strawberries and citrus fruits like oranges as well as in broccoli and green peppers.

Another important antioxidant that does it all is Vitamin E. It has long been associated with eye care and the prevention and delaying of cataracts. The best sources of Vitamin E can be found in various nuts, fortified cereals and green leafy vegetables.

Eye exercises have been found to help prevent eye strain. Simple things such as taking frequent breaks away from the computer screen or, if this is not possible, just looking away from the screen and focusing on different objects at varying distances, all help to improve the focus of your eyes.

A very soothing way to help relax your eyes is to place a sliced piece of cucumber or cold teabags on them while you rest. Alternatively, placing your palms over your eyes for a few minutes of total darkness is very beneficial.

Protection of your eyes is very much common sense but so often overlooked. Over-exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause a number of eye problems so in sunny weather it is always advisable to wear sunglasses or tinted lenses. When driving or working for long periods on the computer the use of antiglare glasses is further recommended as are safety goggles which should be worn for certain sports and should always be worn when undertaking DIY or gardening to avoid injuries caused by flying objects.

Another tip for maintaining healthy eyes is to ensure that if you have been wearing eye make-up that you totally remove it before going to bed. Also, don't forget to throw out any old mascara after three months. If it is kept for any longer than this, it can begin to harbour germs which could then be transferred into your eyes.

Maintaining healthy eyes is vitally important and by following these simple rules, they should always sparkle. To learn more about enhancing your eyes with make-up, a visit to an image consultant would be well worthwhile.

Eye Supplements - Beyond Vitamin A

The eyes are something that many people take for granted, until disease or injury start to affect them, at which point your whole life can be seriously affected. Of course, there are some things, such as accidents and injuries, that can impact your eyes and will require specialist treatment. And in some cases there is nothing that can be done about problems that affect the eyes, such as genetic problems. However, we can look after our optical health in a number of other ways, and one important factor that can help to maintain them is nutrition.

There are a number of things that can affect the health of our eyes, some of which are out of our control and others that we can try and avoid. Some things that potentially increase the risk of eye problems include age, obesity, smoking, excessive exposure to sunlight, and even gender.

Whilst some people will be more at risk than others when it comes to poor eye health, it has been proven that nutrition does play an important role in the health of our vision, and this is therefore something that should be taken into account if you're interested in preventing age related deterioration.

Studies have shown that certain foods contain antioxidants that can are particularly beneficial for our eyes. However, not everyone manages to eat as much fresh produce as they should to get these benefits. Often a busy lifestyle or other factors can affect the ability to eat a balanced diet. However, the wide range of vitamin supplements that are on the market today have made it easier for consumers to get their recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals, although those taking supplements should still try and eat as well as they can in order to maximize the benefits.

Some important supplements that have been identified in relation to eye health are vitamins A, C, and E. These are the antioxidant vitamins.

Vitamin A is well known for its' role in night vision, but it is also important for preventing night blindness is pregnant women, and the health of our skin, hair and mucous membranes. It is found in animal products like liver, whole eggs, and milk.

Vitamin C helps reduce the risk of developing glaucoma, macular degeneration or cataracts. Bioflavanoids are available in combination with vitamin C in some supplements, and this is because they help the body absorb it. Vitamin E also helps reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Other supplements that contribute to eye health include beta carotene, lutein, zinc oxide, selenium, and cupric oxide. Lutein is not as well known as some other supplements, but it is central to eye health. It is found in the retina, eye lens, and macula. People who smoke should be careful they get enough lutein, as smoking can affect its' levels.

Smokers should also be aware that some studies have found that some of those participating who took beta carotene supplements and smoked were at risk of several diseases. These were only small studies however, but care should still be taken.

Eye supplements are a convenient way to get these nutrients, and often contain herbal preparations like bilberry. However, you should remember that exceeding the recommended doses can lead to side effects, so be aware of the total amount of each nutrient you are taking from multivitamins and any other supplements. This is of particular importance with fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A, though if you are not taking high doses of any vitamins you should be alright.