May is National Healthy Vision Month

An older woman stares into an eye-examining device. The eye exam is being performed by a blonde eye doctor

Every day, from the moment you wake up until you go to sleep, your eyes are working for you. Your eyes are one of the main ways that you experience the world, so keeping them healthy should be a top priority. The month of May is National Healthy Vision Month. This month is the perfect opportunity to be aware of eye care tips and the importance of keeping your eyes in their best health possible.

Did You Know?

Get to know your eyes a little better with the following eye facts:

  • The average person blinks about 10,000 times a day – that’s around 12 blinks a minute.
  • Women blink almost twice as much as men do.
  • Vision takes a lot of brain power. In fact, the entire process involves about 50% of the brain.
  • There are more than a million nerve fibers used to power the neuron process that allows your eyes to detect light and turn that light into images.
  • The part of your eye that you see is only about 1/6 of the entire eyeball.
  • The human eyeball weighs about one ounce.
  • The eye muscle is the most active muscle in the body.

Tips for Healthier Eyes

You want your eyes to do their best for you, so you need to do your best for them. These tips will help keep your eyes (and body) healthy.

  • Always wear sunglasses when you go outside, even in overcast weather.
  • Wear protective eyewear while playing sports or working – or when you are engaging in any activity where your eyes may be harmed.
  • Maintain a healthy diet, stay hydrated, and exercise for good eye health. This is all around good advice for not just your eye health, but your overall health as well.
  • When using your computer or electronic device, vary your focal points often. Every 20 to 30 minutes, stop and look at something several feet away for a minute or so. This helps prevent eye fatigue.
  • Eat more dark green vegetables. Spinach, kale, and collards all contain high levels of lutein, zeaxanthin, and carotenoids which can help prevent several age-related eye conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts, as well as other eye diseases. They also help reduce light sensitivity.
  • Maintain a healthy weight to avoid health conditions that are typically related to obesity and unhealthy diets, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
  • Know your family’s health history, including eye health. Many conditions that affect the eye are hereditary, so knowing and telling your doctor may help you prevent them.
  • If you have problems with photophobia (light sensitivity), try getting a pair of glasses with precision tinted lenses specifically for sensitivity to light.
  • Healthy Vision Month is the perfect time to schedule your annual eye exam. Even if you don’t wear glasses, you should have your vision and eyes checked annually.

Your vision is important. Don’t neglect the health of your eyes. National Healthy Vision Month is the perfect opportunity to schedule an appointment with Florida Eye Specialists at any of our six locations around Jacksonville.  

SHARE THIS ARTICLE