Health Tips

Our eyes allow us to capture the beauty of the world, and we have always taken our vision for granted. Here we would like to remind you of the easy things you can do to protect your vision.

Keep your eyes ‘clean’

While you don’t have to wash your eyes with disinfectant (you SHOULD NOT do that), there are many things you can do to keep your eyes hygienic. 

• Avoid rubbing your eyes, especially when your hands are dirty

• If you’re a contact lens wearer, it’s paramount that you practise good contact lens care to keep your eyes clean.

Image courtesy of https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2456169

• Change the solution that you soak your lens in according to the interval recommended by the manufacturer or your eye care professional. 

• When washing your contact lenses with a multipurpose solution, don’t “top off” the solution. Use only fresh contact lens disinfecting solution in your case—never mix fresh solution with old or used solution.

• Clean your contact lens case by rubbing and rinsing it with contact lens solution—never water—and then empty and dry with a clean tissue. Store upside down with the caps off after each use.

• Replace your contact lens case at least once every three months. 

• Not all eye drops can be used when you are wearing contact lenses. Use only eye drops that are approved for contact lens wear. You may consult a pharmacist when buying eye drops.

• Put on soft contact lenses before wearing makeup and RGP lenses after applying makeup. Remove the lenses before removing makeup.

• Avoid lash-extending mascara, which has fibers that can irritate the eyes. Also avoid waterproof mascara, which cannot be easily removed with water and may stain soft contact lenses. Replace mascara at least every three months.

• Avoid applying eyeliner along the watermark of the eyelid.

• Use hairspray before putting on your contacts. If you use hairspray while you are wearing your contacts, close your eyes during spraying and for a few seconds after.

Wear protective sunglasses to protect your eyes from the nasty UVA and UVB radiation. 

See your eye doctor if you’re at risk

People with certain medical conditions are at higher risks of eye diseases. For instance, people with diabetes are very likely to develop diabetic retinopathy, a form of eye damage caused by persistently high blood sugar levels. If you’re a diabetes patient, ask your doctor how often you should do an eye check up. Typically, diabetes patients who do not have any retinopathy should still get their eye check up every 1 to 2 years. For those who have retinopathy, they may need to attend follow-up more frequently.

If your loved one is an elderly, a regular eye examination is also important to screen for cataracts and glaucoma. Catching these eye diseases early improves detection and leads to early treatment, which means a lesser chance of progressing into blindness.

Get rid off poor lifestyle choices

Your eyes are not isolated organs, they’re deeply connected to your overall state of well-being. Studies have shown that smoking can lead to vision loss by causing eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy and Dry Eye Syndrome. 

Besides staying away from smoking habits, be sure to have plenty of dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens. Eating fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids — like salmon, tuna, and halibut — is good for your eyes, too.

A word from DOC2US

If you have any questions related to eye care, you can consult our professional doctors and healthcare professionals on DOC2US. DOC2US is a mobile application that allows you to talk to a doctor or any healthcare professionals via text chat at any time and from anywhere. For better communication, you can even send our online doctor images or voice messages related to your medical inquiry.

Download DOC2US app on Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Huawei App Gallery; or use our web chat at https://web.doc2us.com/

Note: DOC2US is not for medical emergencies. In the event of urgent medical conditions, please call 999.

Disclaimer: As a service to our users and general public, DOC2US provides health education contents. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Specific references have been linked in its relevant part of the article. 

Cover image credit: Photo by salvatore ventura on Unsplash

Written by

Ms Joyce Toh