Leading online glasses retailer Glasses Direct have given us some top eye health tips.

Releasing really interesting research, they have been delving into lockdown eye health concerns. The Glasses Direct Vision Survey in fact found that 18% of 2,000 Brits questioned believe their vision has declined during lockdown. 52% of participants see there being a strong link between this and increased screen time, which so many of us will relate to.

But, the good news is, people do seem to recognise that eye health is important, with 40% of respondents saying they think of it most often when they consider their health (compared to 65% physical health and 52% mental health).

An online retailer where you can try glasses for free before you buy them, Glasses Direct offer a fantastic service in which you select four styles at a time to sample at home. And we don’t know about you, but this sounds far more appealing than standing in an optician’s store working out our best angle. Plus, during the pandemic, it makes sense to limit that in-person contact with this free home trial.

Once the glasses have been delivered (pretty quickly in our experience), you’ve got seven days to try. Prancing around in front of the mirror mulling over new glasses at home is so much easier. And, less pressured.

Then once that time has passed, simply freepost the frames back in their recyclable sleeve. And if you haven’t chosen the right pair at this point? Order a few more options, making the most of this brilliant online service as many times as you like.

When it comes to maintaining optimal eye health, incorporating blue light filter glasses into your routine can be highly beneficial. These specialized glasses are designed to reduce the exposure to blue light emitted by digital screens, helping to alleviate potential eye strain and promote better sleep.

Using your most recent prescription, the glasses will then be made specially for you. With 10 expert opticians to hand at the end of the phone, you can also seek online advice about fit, lens options and frames. Ever style conscious here at SN, brands on offer include Kate Spade, Ray-Ban, Radley and Fossil.

Whether you’re experiencing eye strain or think your vision has changed recently, read on for some top eye health tips from the experts at Glasses Direct:

• Get regular eye tests: The purpose of an eye test is not just to check your vision and determine whether you need glasses, but also to check the overall health of your eyes. This is very important considering your eyes can give an early indication to wider health problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and even various forms of cancer. The NHS recommends that you get your eyes tested every two years, more often if advised by your ophthalmic practitioner or optometrist.
• Reduce screen time or take breaks when you can: All this increased screen time can lead to digital eye strain, which causes headaches, dry eyes, and blurred vision. One contribution is blue light. We are exposed to more High Energy Visible (HEV) light, also called blue light, than ever before because of our many modern electronic devices, in addition to the very significant blue light we receive from daylight. HEV light regroups the shortest visible wavelengths, yet highest energy wavelengths, and they tend to flicker a lot more than longer, less energetic wavelengths. Blue light scatters more in the eye. This means they favour a glare that reduces visual contrast. Blue light blocking lenses help block some of these wavelengths, favouring better visual comfort and enhanced clarity. Blue-violet light (up to 455 nm) is proved to contribute to eye ageing, by favouring oxidative stress in the retina and inhibiting antioxidant defences.
• Follow the 20/20/20: Every 20 minutes look at an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to help relax your eyes.
• Get a good night’s sleep: Just think about how hard your eyes are working all day! A good night’s sleep does wonders for the whole body, but also helps to give your eyes a break, keeps them hydrated, and prevents those annoying tired twitches. On a more serious note, a lack of sleep in the long term can contribute to conditions such as glaucoma, which is a condition where too much pressure builds up inside the eye.
• Eat well: We all know it is good for your overall health to have a healthy, balanced diet, but make sure you are getting the right nutrients to keep your eyes healthy too. Food that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamins C and E all help to keep your eyes in good health. It is also important to keep well hydrated to ensure your eyes remain well lubricated.
• Wear UV and blue blocking eyeglasses, wear sunglasses, have your lenses polarised or consider Transition lenses: Just like our skin, our eyes are vulnerable to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and blue-violet light. When exposed over time, this contributes to accelerate eye ageing and is a contributing factor in cataracts (for UV) and age-related macular degeneration (for blue light). Make sure you wear sunglasses that block at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays – cheap sunglasses with no protection will not do! If you are a glasses-wearer, do not forget that most sunglasses frames can be fitted with prescription lenses. Prefer clear lenses with both UV and blue-violet light protection, for both indoors (digital screens, artificial lighting with windows…) and outdoors.

For more information and a free home trial, visit glassesdirect.co.uk.