Our eyes are gifts. Like every gift, they need care.
However, many people only think about caring for their eyes when something goes wrong. They often remember they need to care for their eyes when vision becomes blurry, the eyes become uncomfortable, headaches start or when an eye condition has already developed.
But caring for our eyes should not only happen when there is a problem. It should start with stewardship.
Stewardship is the proactive, responsible and continuous care of something valuable that has been entrusted to you.
When we practice good eye health stewardship, we are not simply protecting our eyesight. We are preserving our ability to perform our daily activities, work, create, experience the world around us and do many of the things that are important to us. It is also one way of showing gratitude for the gift of sight.
So, how can you practise good eye health stewardship?
Here are five simple ways.
1. Practice daily eye hygiene
Good eye care begins with simple everyday habits.
- Clean around your eyes when you bathe, and avoid rubbing your eyes unnecessarily.
- If you need to touch your eyes, make sure your hands are washed and clean.
- For makeup users, remove your eye makeup properly before you sleep rather than leaving it around the eyes overnight.
Keeping your hands and the area around your eyes clean can help reduce unnecessary exposure to dirt and germs and minimize the risk of irritation and some eye infections.
2. Make your environment eye-friendly
Think about the environment where you spend much of your day.
- Is your lighting comfortable?
- Is there excessive glare?
- Is your computer positioned comfortably?
- Are there hazards around you that could potentially injure your eyes?
If you work at a computer for long periods, set up your workstation in a way that allows you to work comfortably. Use adequate lighting that is neither excessively bright nor too dim, minimise unnecessary glare and position your screen at a comfortable viewing distance.
Where possible, also remove potential eye hazards from your environment rather than waiting for an accident to happen.
Your environment can either support your eye health or make your eyes work under unnecessarily difficult conditions.
3. Protect your eyes from hazards
Sometimes, eye hazards cannot be completely removed because they are part of the work or activity you are doing.
This is where appropriate eye protection becomes important.
- If you are exposed to flying particles or objects, such as during construction or certain forms of manual work, use appropriate safety glasses.
- If you work around chemicals where splashes are possible, appropriate safety goggles may be necessary.
- Welders need welding helmets or other eye protection specifically designed for welding.
- If you spend significant time outdoors under the sun, wear good-quality sunglasses that provide adequate protection from ultraviolet radiation.
- If you spend long hours in front of screens, consider protecting your eyes with anti-glare, blue UV filtering glasses, particularly if you are sensitive to light. Also remember to blink consciously and take regular breaks in between work to give your eyes a chance to rest and minimize strain.
As a guide, identify the particular demands and hazards your eyes are exposed to and use the appropriate protection for them.
4. Get your eyes checked routinely
Don’t wait until something is wrong before you check your eyes.
Being able to see clearly does not necessarily mean that everything about your eye health is fine. Some eye conditions can develop without obvious symptoms, particularly in their early stages. By the time you notice a significant change in your vision, the condition may already have progressed.
Routine comprehensive eye examinations give your eye-care professional an opportunity to assess your eye health and vision, identify changes and recommend appropriate care when necessary.
How often you need an examination will depend on factors such as your age, eye health status, general health, family history and individual risk factors. For many people, an eye examination every year or two is enough, while those with particular eye or health conditions may need to be seen more frequently.
Follow the examination schedule recommended by your eye doctor for your individual circumstances.
5. Adopt healthy living habits that support your eye health
Your eyes are not independent of the rest of your body. What affects your general health can also affect your eyes. So caring for your eyes also means caring for your body.
Eat a balanced diet, stay physically active, get adequate sleep and pay attention to your general health.
If you have chronic health conditions such as diabetes or hypertension, work with your healthcare providers to keep them properly managed, as they can cause eye complications if not controlled.
Healthy living is therefore not separate from eye care. It is part of it.
Good eye health stewardship is not about becoming anxious about everything that could go wrong with your eyes. It is about managing a valuable gift responsibly so that it serves its purpose effectively
Your eyes are precious gifts. They help you read, work, learn, create, connect with people, appreciate the world around you and carry out many of your everyday responsibilities.
Don’t wait for a problem before you start caring for them. Be a good steward of this gift; use it wisely, so that it can continue to serve you throughout life and help you live purposefully.