2 l o o k i n l i f e s t y l e

h e a l t h & W e l l b e i n G
MEMORIES ARE MADE
WITH THESE
Boots Opticians, Ascot
An eye check can give a good indication
of the health of your eye, and can also
sometimes spot the signs of underlying
health conditions such as diabetes or high
blood pressure.
Anyone can develop sight problems, but
some people have a higher risk of eye
disease. It’s especially important to have
regular eye checks if you are above 60 years
old or from a family with a history of eye
diseases.
In our social media world it’s clear that a
good proportion of our memories would
be made up of images, so looking after
your eyes is really important.
It’s easy to neglect your eyes because they
rarely hurt when there’s a problem. visiting an
optician and having an eye check won’t just
tell you if you need new glasses or a change
of prescription, it’s also an important eye
health check.
It not only helps identify potential problems
with your eyesight before they develop but
also provides a window to your overall health,
before you’re aware of any symptoms – many
of which can be treated if found early enough.
having reguLar eye CheCks
It’s important to check your vision regularly, as
your sight changes throughout your life, but
eye checks reveal much more about your
general health, than just how well you can see.
Your eyes play a vital role throughout your life,
so it is worth caring for them.
Getting an eye health check at least every
two years is a simple step you can take to care
for your eyesight. And if you have children,
they could be entitled to a free nHS funded
eye check.
PrOteCting yOur eyes
Your eyes are exposed to light from a range
of sources but in some cases this can be
harmful to them.
uv rays - Your eyes are up to ten times
more sensitive to Uv damage from the sun
than your skin is. never look at the sun
directly, even when something exciting is
happening, such as an eclipse. Doing so can
cause irreversible damage to your eyesight
and even lead to blindness. Several studies
also suggest that sunlight exposure is a risk
factor for cataracts.
Protecting your children’s eyes, as well as
your own, is particularly important as a large
proportion of the eyes’ lifetime exposure to
Uv can happen before the age of 18.
Look for glasses carrying the CE mark,
which ensures they offer a safe level of
ultraviolet protection.
Caring FOr yOur ChiLdren’s eyes
As a parent you’ll want to give your child the
best start in life, which is why looking after
their eyes is important too, especially because
they are still growing. Here are some simple
ways to look after your child’s eyesight:
• Children do not usually complain about
their sight, but may show signs of not
being able to see properly.
• Things to look out for include sitting close
to the Tv, holding objects very close to
their face, blinking a lot, eye rubbing, or
one eye turning in or out.
regular eye checks are particularly
important in childhood because they:
• Check how well your child can see
• Look at how healthy their eyes are
• Help identify problems early to prevent
them developing a lazy eye.
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