April 2018


Contents

 

Monthly calendar
April calendar on Page 6

Page 5 of 6

HealthTrip: Do You See What Eye See?

Your eyes are an important part of your health. You can do many things to keep your eyes healthy and make sure you’re seeing your best. Follow these simple guidelines for maintaining healthy eyes:

Get a dilated eye exam at least once a year and share the results with your primary care doctor.
You might think your vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure. When it comes to common vision problems, some people don’t realize they could see better with glasses or contact lenses. In addition, many common eye diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration, often have no warning signs. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages. Take a look at Henrico County’s Blue View Vision Plan for Health Benefit Plan Subscribers.

Know your family’s eye health history. Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition, since many are hereditary. This information will help to determine if you’re at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition. For more information on disease and conditions, head over to Centers for Disease Control- Common Eye Disorders.

Eat right to protect your sight. You’ve heard that carrots are good for your eyes. But eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too. Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, tuna and halibut.

Quit smoking or never start. Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Research has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General. The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General (Washington, D.C., 2004)

Practice eye safety. Henrico County is committed to providing a safe work environment. When protective eyewear is required as part of your job, make a habit of wearing the appropriate type, and encourage your coworkers to do the same. It is also important to wear protective eye equipment when playing sports or doing activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses, googles and safety shields. All of these are designed to provide the correct protection for the activity in which you’re engaged. The Risk Management Office has an online safety presentation on Personal Protective Equipment for County personnel.

Be cool and wear your shades. Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink, and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This short exercise can help reduce eye strain.

Clean your hands and your contact lenses—properly. To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate.

Additional Resources: