Put eye care at the top of your agenda

Your eyes are about to thank you: when was the last time you had eye care at the top of your priority list? Probably never, but your eyes do so much for you - from the moment you wake up until bed time. It's only fair to add them to your self-care list.

Giving your eyes self care may feel a bit pointless when they feel fine. But that's the thing with eyes: being proactive with your eyes will help prevent eye problems that otherwise could occur in your future.

Here's our favourite eye self care tips:

Get new glasses at least every one to two years or more frequently if necessary

Do you visit your optometrist as often as you visit your dentist? If you're reading this and this sounds like you, do your due diligence and get over to your optometrist ASAP (or, at least, every 1-2 years, but yes, ideally, annually).

This applies even if you have great vision. Your prescription can change naturally over time and regular eye exams can detect eye diseases and conditions that may have no early symptoms, such as glaucoma (a group of nasty eye diseases that can cause blindness, but catching it early can slow this down). If you have family history of eye diseases, its recommended to visit your optometrist even more frequently.

Wear your sunglasses (and your SPF) even when it's cold or not sunny

The sun may not feel powerful in the winter or when its cloudy, but UV radiation is still coming through! Sunglasses can protect your eyes from UV radiation (and trust us when your eyes are super delicate) which can cause eye issues like pinguecula and pterygia (growth on the white part of your eye) or keratitis (inflammation or damage to your cornea). Similarly, your skin needs to be protected too, so make sure you've got your sunglasses and SPF on at all times.

Mayo Clinic doctors specifically recommend looking for sunglasses that block 99-100% of both UVA and UVB rays, screen out 75-90% of visible light, have lenses perfectly matched in colour and free of distortions and imperfections, and have lenses that are grey so you can see colours clearly. Wrap around or close fitting sunglasses are also ideal to protect your eyes, especially if you're in a high UV environment, such as running, tennis, sailing or any other outdoor activity. 

Shop our fav SPFs from Thank You Farmer (£35) or Summer Fridays (£36).

Pamper your eyelids with a warm compress in the evening

Your eyes have oily glands called Meibomian glands that pump oil onto your eye's surface, creating a healthy film, but as you age, your glands don't create as much oil as before. If you aren't making enough oil, you can develop dry eye or blephartis (a condition that causes eyelid inflammation!). 

A warm compress can soften any clogged oil in your eyelids, making them more likely to work as they should. It costs almost nothing to make yourself a warm compress and can feel oh-so-indulgent after a long day. Simply wet a washcloth with warm water, close your eyes and press the compress against your eyelids for a few minutes. 

We absolutely love these towels from Act+Acre (£30) or Ceremonia (£33).

Ditch your smoking habit

If you were looking for your sign to quit smoking, this is it. Did you know that smoking doubles the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the UK's number one cause of sight loss? If that cigarette isn't worth risking blindness, read on. The link is also strong between smoking and lung cancer - so your lungs will thank you too.

Eat healthy and watch your weight

Getting certain nutrients in your diet is essential to maintaining eye health. A balanced diet low in saturated fats is essential to maintaining your eye health. Eating rich green leafy veggies such as spinach and broccoli will help keep you and your eyes healthy, reducing your risk of eye diseases associated with obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Lutein and zeaxanthin, which are found in spinach, kale and eggs can reduce your risk of chronic eye diseases. Vit C (found in many fruits and veggies) can slow the progression of age-related vision loss, and Vit E (found in veggie oils, nuts, seeds and green veggies) can protect cells in your eyes from tissue breakdown. Similarly, Omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts and fish help ensure retina functionality, and zinc, found in oysters, beans, seafood and more, helps you body produce more melanin, a protective pigment in the eyes. 

It's also important to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can increase the risk of developing diabetes, which in turn can cause sight loss. Hypertension and Type 2 diabetes both can lead to serious eye complications.