National Eye Health Week: Monday 18th September 2017
Monday 18th September 2017 marks the start of National Eye Health Week which promotes the importance of eye health and having regular sight tests for all. Here at Eye Clinic London we have put together a list of useful tips and advice on how to keep everyone’s eyes, young and old, healthy and in tip top condition.
1. Regular eye tests
This may seem the most obvious advice, but many people do fail to have regular eye tests. Healthy adults should have an eye test every 2 years, but this may be more frequent if you suffer from health issues. Children should also have eye tests at least every 2 years, from birth until the child is about 4 or 5 this will probably be checked when the child has normal follow ups. Not only do eye tests check your sight and eye health, but it can also detect more serious problems like brain tumours.
2. Eat well
To keep your eyes in great condition you should have a healthy and varied diet. Here are some top foods you can add into your diet which promote healthy eyes;
• Foods rich in beta-carotene such as carrots, pumpkin and sweet potato
• Omega-3 fatty acids such as oily fish
• Vitamin C such as berries, broccoli and citrus fruits
• Vitamin E such as almonds, avocados and kiwifruit
• Lutein such as kale, spinach, spring greens and eggs
3. Rest
Resting your eyes is very important when they feel tired and strained, especially if you work in front of a computer screen. A good tip is doing the 20/20/20 rule; every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away, for 20 seconds and see if it helps.
4. Pregnancy
We find a lot of women don’t know that being pregnant can affect their eyes, and are surprised when they get signs of eye problems. More often than not, these problems are minor and the eyes go back to normal after the birth of the baby or once breastfeeding has been stopped, but there are also some eye problems that develop during pregnancy that should be checked by an ophthalmologist and the maternity department too, so if you have any concerns make an appointment with them.
5. Sunglasses
Sunglasses should be worn all year round but many people forgot to wear them during the winter months and wait until the bright summers days to start wearing them again. During the spring months of March, April and May the days start to get brighter and longer, but even when we get grey or overcast days you should try to wear sunglasses when outdoors, it’s a great habit to get into. Long term sun overexposure can play a part in causing some eye problems, such as cataracts, so protecting them earlier will always be best.
About the expert
Mr Hamada | Consultant Ophthalmologist and Corneal Surgeon
MD, MSc, DO (hons), FRCSEd, FRCOphth I am Samer, founder and consultant ophthalmic surgeon with over 20 years’ experience in ophthalmology. I am a world-renowned specialist in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery. I’m not only a leading surgeon but also the only dual fellowship trained in corneal diseases in children from reputable institutions in the UK. At Eye Clinic London I work closely with other consultant ophthalmologists, optometrists and orthoptists to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. Our main aim is to make sure our patients get the safest and best treatments available to them. We put your safety before anything else so you can rest assured that if you choose us you will be in the best and safest hands.
