Photo by Marina Vitale on Unsplash
Whether at Oregon State University as a student, professor, or faculty member, you know that the institution and the state have a lot to offer.
The university is the largest in the state, attracting people from all 50 states and north of 100 countries worldwide.
Called the Beaver State, Oregon is also known for natural wonders like Cannon Beach, Crater Lake, and Mount Hood. But one thing’s for sure — appreciating all that the school and the state have to offer is a whole lot easier if you have optimal vision health.
Many vision issues are avoidable or fixable. But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. All it’ll take are a few changes to put you on the right path toward good eye health.
Keep reading to look at five things you can do for better vision health and a higher quality of life.
1. Look into Your Family’s Eye Health History
It’s essential to look into the eye health history of your family. If you’re lucky, you’ll have easy access to your loved ones and won’t have difficulty getting the information you want.
But depending on how far and wide your family is spread out, getting the information you need might be more of a challenge. But it’s worth the effort to find out your family’s eye history since many eye conditions or ailments are hereditary. Knowing your risk factors is essential.
2. Eat Well
What you eat can also help or hinder your overall eye health. Most people know that carrots are a good choice for keeping their eyes healthy. But it doesn’t end there. Ensure you incorporate other veggies, especially the dark leafy green varieties, into your breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Enjoy salads that include things like kale, swiss chard, spinach, and other leafy greens.
And don’t forget to eat a good amount of fruit over the course of the day. It’s also a good idea to eat fish containing lots of omega-3 fatty acids. You can find easy recipes for tuna, salmon, and other fish. What you’ll find is that eating for your eye health doesn’t have to mean boring meals.
3. Stay in Shape
Did you know that it’s best to aim for about half an hour of moderate physical activity daily? You may need to exercise more if the goal is to reduce weight or maintain weight loss. If you want to enjoy good eye health, avoid being overweight. And if you’re overweight or obese, commit to trimming down.
Talk to your doctor or hire a personal trainer. Being overweight can increase your odds of coming down with conditions like diabetes. And such conditions can lead to loss of vision via glaucoma or diabetic eye disease.
4. Watch Blood Sugar Levels
It’s also critical to watch your blood sugar levels. Otherwise, you could wind up with vision loss. You can prevent most blindness attributable to diabetes. Diabetes is manageable and even reversible in some cases. So, knowing what to do is critical if you want to steer clear of some of the side effects of having the disease. Speak with your doctor for help in dealing with diabetes.
5. Take Breaks from the Screen
As a student at Oregon State, you’ll be working on assignments, studying for tests, and doing other things. And a lot of your time will be spent sitting behind a screen. You need to learn when and how to take breaks. The 20-20-20 rule is important. For each 20 minutes of time looking at a screen, look at an object 20 feet or so away from the screen for 20 seconds.
Don’t forget to protect your eyes. You’ll want to do everything you can to ensure optimal eye health over the course of your lifetime. By keeping in mind the five tips above, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying the natural beauty of Oregon State University, the state, and more.
