The 20-Something Guy’s Guide to Managing Eye Health

In a world where vision is so essential, taking care of your ocular health has never been more necessary. 

According to World Health Organization data, at least 2.2 billion people globally live with vision impairment. While vision problems can affect everyone regardless of gender, studies suggest that some refractive errors can be more common among men. For instance, research published in ScienceDirect shows that men are more likely to develop against-the-rule astigmatism, while some studies suggest that men have faster myopia progression than women. 

While young adults typically have healthy vision, experts have emphasized protecting your eyes to prevent ocular conditions from developing or worsening as you age. This can include routine practices like visiting an eye doctor or healthy lifestyle habits like spending more time outside. If you need help getting started on these healthy habits, here is the 20-something guy’s guide to managing eye health:

Update your prescription 

According to the American Optometric Association (AAO), one of the most common vision problems for young adults is visual stress or eye strain, which can result from wearing outdated prescription glasses. If you need glasses for vision correction, keeping your prescription updated is essential to maintaining healthy vision.

You can choose from various eyeglasses frames for men that suit your preferences, from round Ray-Ban glasses to rectangular Persol specs, and simply upload your updated prescription online when buying new glasses. This removes the need to travel to a brick-and-mortar store and makes staying on top of your vision health easier than ever. Updating your prescription can also help prevent your eye muscles from becoming too overworked, ensuring visual acuity and comfort.

Spend some time outside

Research shows that spending time outside and staring at far objects can help relax ocular muscles, which may be strained due to close-up tasks like working on the computer or playing video games. You can try outdoor activities like hiking if you want to take a break from your screens.

Aside from improving your cardiovascular health and endurance, hiking can be a powerful stress reliever, and it offers opportunities to expose your eyes to a broader spectrum of light, promoting the production of vitamin D, an essential nutrient for your eyes. Studies also show that spending time outdoors can slow down myopia progression, which can increase with age.

Prioritize protective eyewear

While spending time outdoors is important, before heading out, make sure you prioritize sun protection. Studies show that young people are less likely to wear sunglasses than older generations, and a Vision Council of America survey found that women are more likely to wear sunnies than men.

Lack of proper vision protection outside can expose your eyes to harmful UV rays, which can cause cataracts and macular degeneration. You can avoid these risks by wearing protective eyewear outside, like sunglasses, to prevent UV rays from damaging your vision. Several sunglasses are available in the market, including the Oakley Holbrook, which can be equipped with polarized lenses for reduced glare and enhanced vision outdoors. 

Get regular eye exams

While the AAO believes that vision health generally remains stable among young adults, getting your eyes checked regularly is still important. After all, many vision issues can develop without apparent symptoms. When you get an eye exam, an expert can assess your vision health and detect potential ocular issues, allowing for early treatment to prevent vision loss.

If your eyes get more tired as the day passes, getting your eyes examined earlier in the day may lead to more accurate results. Eye experts recommend that adults aged 19 to 40 get an eye exam at least every two years, so make sure to keep to that schedule to ensure timely diagnosis of any possible vision issues.

Maintaining your eye health is key to achieving a better quality of life. Because some vision issues can be affected by your gender and lifestyle, practicing eye-healthy habits this early is essential to help offset the development of ocular problems that can worsen as you age. 

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