7 Tips for Healthy Eyes in 2022

The last two years have been trying, and 2022 calls for plenty of self-care and positive thinking. One area that many Canadians forget to focus on during self-care is our eyes. Eyes let us see the world, capture memories, watch videos, and much more. For those with vision troubles, 2022 is a great time to consider LASIK in Toronto.

At Clearview Vision Institute, we offer bladeless LASIK surgery and LASIK Xtra as a form of proactive LASIK care. Working with families across Toronto, we understand more than most about what it takes to keep your eyes healthy.

To keep our clients informed in 2022, here are 7 tips for healthy eyes.

1. Minimize screen time

The average Canadian spends more than 6 hours every day staring at a screen. This can be problematic for your eyes. In fact, according to Health Beat, too much screen time can attribute to a variety of eye symptoms, including:

• Nearsightedness
• Damage to retinas
• Focus loss
• Dry eyes
• Irritation
• Vision fatigue

To minimize eye strain and related symptoms, we recommend giving your eyes a break during the day. Try to reduce your screen time by one hour every day for 21 days. This is approximately how long it takes to build a new habit. By the time you’ve shortened daily screen time for three weeks, you won’t feel like going back. This could be an eye saver.

As an alternative for Canadians who work online and need to watch a screen, you can invest in a pair of blue light glasses. Blue light glasses filter out the blue light from electronic devices. This protects your eye from harmful short-wave blue light, which can be damaging to the eye.

2. Eat “eye smart” foods

There’s lots to say about eating smart, especially for your heart and waistline, but what about your eyes? According to Harvard Health, the best foods for your peepers are chalked full of antioxidants. This is because the retina experiences a lot of oxidative damage. Foods that are high in vitamins C, A, and E are helpful for preventing protein damage. This includes foods like:

• Green leafy vegetables
• Avocados
• Beetroot
• Pomegranate
• Blueberries
• Pumpkin
• Asparagus

Try to add a few of these “eye smart” ingredients to your everyday meals for healthier eyes in 2022.

3. Keep lenses clean

If you haven’t gotten a LASIK procedure in Toronto yet, you might wear contact lenses. Many Canadians forget to clean reusable lenses. This is problematic because it can transfer bacteria, dust, and debris into your eyes. To clean your lenses, follow these steps:

• Squirt lens cleaning solution into your palm
• Place the contact lens into solution
• Rub it gently with a clean finger
• Rinse with additional contact solution
• Store overnight or wear as needed

Before you touch your contacts to remove or insert them, wash your hands with soap and water. Daily lenses should be cleaned every night between uses, while extended-wear contacts can be washed once a week.

4. Swap out old mascara and eyeliner

Any makeup product that touches your eyes should be regularly swapped out for new stuff. While you can keep eyeshadow for up to a year, your mascara should be replaced every three to six months based on usage.

Mascara and eyeliner touch your eyes and go back into their container. This allows any bacteria to transfer from your eyes to settle in the bottle. Additional debris, rogue lashes, and dust go into the makeup container, helping bacteria grow. Keeping eye makeup fresh and clean ensures you’re never putting bacteria in and around your eyes.

5. Get some shut-eye

Ever notice how itchy your eyes feel when you’re overtired? Believe it or not, your sleep schedule impacts your eye health. Not only do your eyes rest and regenerate during sleep, but your tear ducts replenish during this time. This keeps eyes healthy and hydrated through the day, thus reducing dry eyes, irritation, and itchiness.

The average Canadian adult should sleep 7 hours a night. You can improve sleep cycles by making your bedroom a space that you only use at night, avoiding food before bed, and exercising during the day.

6. Get LASIK in Toronto to avoid touching your eyes

Whether you’re pushing glasses up your nose or swapping out contact lenses at night, the LASIK procedure in Toronto saves you from touching your eyes. Custom bladeless LASIK treats a variety of sight issues, including:

• Astigmatism
• Nearsightedness
• Farsightedness

The process uses a cutting-edge bladeless laser and corneal mapping to treat vision issues. More than 95% of patients who undergo LASIK procedures come out with 20/20 vision or greater. In 2022, we predict that many Canadians will ditch glasses and contacts for LASIK. Why scramble for frames or lenses every time you want to see? See the world as it really is 24/7 with LASIK.

7. Have your eyes checked regularly

To keep your eyes in optimal health and avoid unnecessary vision issues, Canadians should have regular eye exams. Adults without known eye disease or ailments should have a vision test once every 2 years.

Eye tests do more than just tell you how your vision is performing. Your optometrist also tests you for glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachments, and more. Eyes tell us a lot about how our bodies are operating. An optometrist can detect early signs of diabetes, cancer, and blood pressure problems.

At Clearview Vision Institute, our doctors are trained in a variety of vision and eye health issues. We work with patients across Ontario and can help you diagnose eye health concerns early. 2022 is a great year to be proactive in your approach to health and wellness. Schedule an appointment with your optometrist, and keep your eyes focused for years to come. If you have any questions about laser eye surgery in Toronto, feel free to reach out!

Contact Clearview Vision Institute

Interested in learning more about how you can promote healthy eyes in 2020? Clearview Vision Institute wants to help. Contact us today to hear about our LASIK services and pricing packages. Our friendly team is always happy to hear from new and returning clients. Call 647-493-6371 to chat with our team today!