Womens Carrera Sunglasses

The one thing that every single person in the world takes for granted the most is their eyes. We hardly ever think about them, and sometimes we forget that some of the things we do in our everyday lives can damage or cause harm to this very important part of our body.

The main reason why we have to look after our precious eyes is to maintain good eyesight for as long as possible. After all, we only get one set for our whole lives, so we should take care of them the best that we can. Naturally, the eyes weaken as we get older which is something we cannot do anything about, but if we look after them, they have the potential to maintain good clarity for a long time.

Before the age of 40, the natural lense in our eyes is extremely flexible which helps them to focus on objects that are far away or very close. However, as we get older, this lense becomes weaker and loses some of its flexibility, causing our eyes to not be able to focus on close up objects as well as they once could. This is why we sometimes see our parents or grandparents hold up a book further away from their eyes so that they can read it properly! If you follow our 5 top tips below, you will be on your way to maintaining your eyesight and keeping them healthy!

TIP ONE: QUIT SMOKING!

Smoking is probably the worst possible way to damage your eyes as well as every other organ in your body. Smoking drastically increases the risk of optic nerve damage. The optic nerve is the nerve that connects and transmits vital information between the eye and the brain. Optic nerve damage can lead to vision loss, distortion and even blindness. Giving up smoking will not only improve your eye health, it will improve overall health in your body and also prevent the risk of developing other diseases such as lung cancer.

TIP TWO: KEEP TO A HEALTHY DIET AND GET ALL THE NUTRIENTS YOUR BODY NEEDS

A healthy diet is key to maintaining your overall eye health and there some foods that are especially good for keeping your eyes in good condition. Taking vitamins C and E, and eating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, zinc or lutein, such as salmon and tuna, can stop you from getting eye diseases such as Cataracts and Glaucoma which can occur if eyes are put under strain. It is important to include plenty of citrus fruits like oranges in your diet, as well as green leafy vegetables such as spinach which contain high levels of iron, and can prevent Age Related Macular Degeneration from developing in the eye. Eating healthily also means that you will maintain a good fat and muscle level in the body, which is an important barrier for Diabetes. Scientists have discovered that a disease like Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in our eyes which can lead to blindness.

TIP THREE: GIVE YOUR EYES A BREAK FROM THE COMPUTER SCREEN

Almost a third of the adult population in the UK work in an office environment, which means that they often stare at a computer screen for up to 8 hours a day. It is important that you give your eyes regular breaks from the screen by turning your eyes away, or closing them for 2 minutes (without falling asleep) every now and again. Working on a computer for a long time can result in eyestrain if they are focused on one spot and the brightness of most computer screens doesn't help either. After a few hours of looking at a screen, you will find that it becomes extremely hard for your eyes to focus on something in the distance. Headaches and dry eyes are also common problems. Make sure you take a ten minute break every couple of hours so your eyes have the chance to rest!

TIP FOUR: TAKE YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN TO GET YOUR EYES EXAMINED REGULARLY

Doctors recommend that children have their first eye test at the age of three. When babies are born, their eyes are very sensitive to light and cannot focus on objects or see colours very clearly. Vision begins to develop during the first few months of their lives when they start to focus on objects and by 4 months, they are able to see across a room with colour. Some people take their children to have an eye test at 6 months, but sometimes this is too young for doctors to spot any eye problems. At the age of three, children should have a complete eye exam as problems such as lazy eye, or being long or short sighted can be spotted at that age. If any eye problems are discovered, the doctor will provide the necessary equipment to help the eye sight improve such as glasses, reading glasses or eye patches. This eye examination will usually include tests for visual sharpness and overall eye health.

It is as important for adults to go for regular eye checks. During the examination, the doctor will check for diseases such as Glaucoma, Cataracts and Macular degeneration as well as other problems. If any problems are diagnosed, ensure that the correct procedures are carried out so that the disease doesn't get any worse and glasses can be prescribed. At the age of 40, it is common that the eyes will change and this is called Presbyopia. This is when it becomes difficult to read things or see objects up close and this is normal. The easiest solution for this is to get your hands on a pair of reading glasses, bifocals or specially adapted contact lenses.

TIP FIVE: WEAR SUNGLASSES TO PROTECT YOUR EYES FROM UV RAYS

This is not only a very important tip to remember, it is also our favourite tip! The sun is the most common problem when it comes to damaged eyes and it can lead to big problems such as vision loss. When your eyes start to squint or close due to bright outdoor light, they are creating a natural defence against UV rays, which are very harmful and can affect the way that the eyes function. If you don't usually wear sunglasses on a sunny day, you are putting your eyes under the risk of diseases and eye breakdowns.

The sun gives off UV rays that are extremely dangerous if the eyes absorb them directly as it can cause a UV-related disease such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and even skin cancer on the eyelids. The two types of UV rays are UVA rays and UVB rays and have one thing in common- they are both very dangerous. UVA rays penetrate into the back of the eye, and UVB rays, cause damage to the lens and cornea and both need to be avoided by wearing sunglasses that have 100% UV protection.

Sunglasses come with different UV classifications, but all of our designer sunglasses that we stock here at Blaze will provide you with 100% protection of both UVA and UVB rays. Not only will you look super stylish and extremely fashionable when wearing a pair, you will also be able to relax and enjoy yourself in the outdoor sunlight knowing that your extremely precious eyes are protected and being cared for with a designer label. Wrap-around sunglasses such as these Nike EV0605 Adrenaline Stealth Sunglasses are particularly good for protecting the eyes against UV rays. The sleek wrap-around shape provides ultimate protection from all angles as well as stopping dust and wind from entering the eyes. Wrap around sunglasses have also been recommended by eye specialists all over the world.

We stock hundreds of other unique sunglasses at Blaze, from top designer brands such as Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Oakley and Ray-Ban. Give your eyes a treat this year and shop our designer collection today.