7 Tips to Shield Your Eyes from Pollution, Allergens and Strain This Season
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With allergy season ramping up and outdoor pollution levels fluctuating, our eyes face threats from environmental irritants. Combined with frequent digital eye strain, our precious peepers take a pounding. Safeguard your vision by being proactive.
Research suggests simple precautions can help alleviate irritation when exposures are unavoidable. General tips involve keeping eyes hydrated, taking visual breaks, avoiding rubbing, and blinking more frequently. Eating produce rich in vitamins and minerals supports eye health maintenance.
- Stay Hydrated to Keep Eyes Moist
Dehydration exacerbates all ocular issues. When we lack sufficient fluid intake, our tear production declines. It is important to drink plenty of water daily and consume foods with high water content. Moist eyes endure environmental strains be
tter.
- Take Regular Breaks from Visual Tasks
Frequent breaks give strained eyes respite. For every 20 minutes of near-work, look up 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Periodically resting weary peepers goes a long way toward preventing dryness and headache issues influenced by unrelenting digital exposure and pollution.
- Avoid Rubbing Eyes to Reduce Irritation
Rubbing eyes tends to exacerbate problems by spreading contaminants and allergens around and further irritating ocular tissues. If possible, avoid touching eyes when exposes to pollutants or allergens. Softly dabbing around eyes is safest if they become uncomfortable.
- Blink More Often to Spread Tears and Lubricate
Making an effort to blink frequently when doing visual tasks or when outside in unfriendly environments helps spread tears more evenly and flush irritants away naturally. Reminding yourself to blink completely prevents staredown sessions that hamper lubrication flow.
- Eat Eye-Friendly Fruits and Vegetables
Proper nutrition supports total body wellness, eye health included. Fruits and vegetables containing vitamins A, C and E help combat free radicals from pollution and sun exposure. Lutein and zeaxanthin-rich produce like kale, spinach and broccoli boosts eye nutrition. Staying hydrated also maximizes nutritional absorption.
Implementing research-backed precautions empowers you to stand guard against environmental eye insults. Maintaining eye health bolsters overall well-being and quality of life. Experiencing chronic symptoms warrants an examination to rule out underlying conditions. As always, consult your eyecare provider for personalized guidance.