It's not wise to forget about the condition of our eyes. The condition of our skin, hair, and joints take precedence because we see and feel when they begin to decline, but the decline of our eyes can be so subtle the only time we realize something is wrong is when it’s too late to reverse the damage.

Here we’ll discuss the importance of eye care, methods to strengthen our eyes, the specific conditions and diseases that harm our eyesight, and how to improve the condition with small steps and supplements.

Why should we moisturise our eyes daily?

Our eyes are extremely delicate. It takes little to cause irritation or blindness from inadequate care. They need an abundance of moisture to function optimally.

Naturally, our eyes are covered by a tear film — a layer that prevents evaporation of moisture. But it can be damaged. If it is ripped even a little, the moisture in our eyes will evaporate and lack of moisture causes irritation and discomfort.

Our eyes can be strained easily due to simple things such as lack of sleep or bigger problems  such as chronic illnesses.

How do I moisturise my eyes?

You can moisturise your eye with a wide variety of eye drops, depending on the condition of your eyes. Eye drops help minimize dryness and irritation effective immediately.

There're plenty of different eye drops depending on your needs.

Additionally, if you have trouble using eyedrops, there are also eye sprays and eye gels to apply instead. Eye sprays are best for someone who is constantly on the move; while gels are better for bedtime use.

Whichever method you choose, whether it’s eye drops, eye sprays, or eye gels, they each work to elevate irritation and discomfort immediately and easily.

What else can I do to moisturise my eyes?

On top of eye drops, eye sprays, and eye gels, you can use health vitamins, supplements and eye washes to eliminate dry eyes and irritation.

Supplements with important fatty acids including DHA, GLA, EPA, and Omega-3 and Omega-6 are important to enhance and maintain the healthy condition of your eyes. As a bonus, they’re also great for the look and feel of skin and hair.

These type of supplements come in the form of capsules, usually one per day. Read the bottle to confirm directions.

What conditions affect my eyes?

There are several conditions that can harm the quality of your eyes, either directly to the eyes or through illnesses which will later affect your eyes if not managed correctly.

Cataracts

Cataracts blur and inhibit vision through clouding of the lens of your eye. Cataracts usually occur for men and women aged 65+.

Symptoms for developing cataracts include:

• Blurry vision
• Clouded vision and
• Bright lights causing sensory overload

Cataracts can be treated through surgery. The symptoms and appearance of cataracts in the eye can be found early by an eye-care professional.

Diabetes

Undiagnosed or poorly managed diabetes can lead to damage of the retina because of retina damage. If left untreated, this could lead to blindness.

You should get your eyes checked annually if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Besides checking for retina damage, burst blood vessels in the eyes could mean there are blocked and/or burst blood vessels elsewhere in the body.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma can damage your retina, where the optic nerve carries information to the brain. If the retina connected to the optic nerve and the brain becomes damaged, it can lead to blindness.

Unfortunately, there are no signs in the early stages of glaucoma, but it does develop slowly. If your eye doctor is able to see issues with your vision early, treatment can begin to help manage glaucoma.

Macular degeneration

Macular degeneration is a disorder where your vision slowly declines, causing the edges of your vision to become blurry. Eventually, it can lead to difficulty identifying faces, watching shows, and reading. It can also worsen as you age.

Lifestyle changes can slow down the process of glaucoma, and products can help your vision, like magnifying glasses, or reading lights.

Flashes (floaters)

Lights that flash in front of your eyes, or dark spots that appear in your vision (floaters) sometimes occur when collagen from your eyes show up in your vision and cause shadows to appear.

Usually, flashes and floaters are harmless and common, but in some instances they can hint to a bigger problem. Ask your eye doctor about them if you’re concerned.

Anything else I can do to keep my eyes moisturised and healthy?

On top of using eye drops, eye sprays, eye gels, additional supplements for healthy eyes, and seeing a doctor about the condition of your eyes on a regular basis, there are lifestyle changes you can make to keep your eyes healthier, longer.

Protect eyes from UV rays

Our eyes are especially sensitive to UV rays. They hurt your eyes more than your skin. Protect your eyes and the eyes of your children from UV rays with protective glasses.

Protect eyes from blue light

Blue light can come from our electronic devices (tablets, computers, phones). Some blue light is necessary for the development of your eyes, but others can cause strain and lead to eye problems later. Limit the amount of bad blue light as often as you can.

Stop smoking

Quitting smoking is beneficial to your health in a number of ways: saving money, reducing the chance of smoke-related cancers, second-hand smoke to others, and making eyesight worse when associated with diabetes. On top of that, smoking is closely linked to age-related Macular Degeneration.

Eating a colourful diet

Include foods into your meals that are specifically beneficial for your eyes, and the rest of your body. Some types of foods to focus on include eggs, dairy products, nuts, vitamins (A, E, C are best), and carrots for carotene.

Remember:

The health of our eyes should not be neglected. They need additional moisture to relieve dry, itchy, and discomfort through eye drops, eye sprays, and eye gels. They need to be checked (preferably annually) for any degenerative conditions such as cataracts, burst blood vessels links to diabetes, and macular degeneration.

Additionally, adding in capsule supplements and lifestyle changes will help keep your eyes healthier longer.

Eyesight is precious and difficult (if not impossible) to regain once lost, so do these tips above to keep them working as they should.