Can Houseplants Help with Your Eye Health?
Can Houseplants Help with Your Eye Health?
Your daily environment has an impact on your vision and eye health. If you want to maintain good vision throughout your life, then you need to consider the way your home is affecting your eyes.
As surprising as it might sound, the EPA has suggested that indoor air is 2 – 5 times more polluted than the air outside. There are a variety of products in your home that might impact the quality of your air. Everything from cleaning products to mold, dust, and fumes could increase the risk of health problems. Dry eye is one condition that might be worsened by poor air quality.
Plants Help to Purify Your Living Space
One of the most effective ways to improve your home is to bring in houseplants. These plants work as a natural filter for the air. There’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a good air filter. Instead, use the natural air filter that comes from Mother Nature.
Plants are effective to absorb carbon dioxide, increase oxygen levels, and manage indoor moisture levels. At the same time, they filter out the unwanted chemicals that are in the air, reducing the irritants that could affect your eyes.
Try crawling lines, bamboo palms, lilies, or philodendrons. The best option is to go to a local greenhouse and talk to the employees about good indoor options. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, some great low-maintenance solutions can thrive for years. All you need to do is add a little water and choose a location in your home where the plant will get some sunlight exposure.
Be Careful about Allergies
Are you someone who experiences eye irritations from pollen? If seasonal allergies are a concern for you, then you need to be careful about the plants that are brought into your home. Avoid plants with blooming flowers. Also, be cautious about the quality of the potted soil. If the soil starts to develop fungus or mold, then the airborne particles could trigger your allergy symptoms.
Talk to a plant expert to find more information about the best low-pollen options that can be used in your home. Or, another option is to use artificial plants to beautify your living space and then invest in a good air filtration system instead.
Professional Recommendations for Dry Eyes
Even if you have plants in your home and you are using a good air filter, it is possible that you might still suffer from chronic dry eyes. It is important that you talk to an optometrist to find the best ways to support your eye health. A simple conversation can help you explore treatment options so that you can find relief from the discomfort of these symptoms.
Learn more by scheduling an eye exam with us at Village Eyecare. We have four locations that you can visit in the Chicago area. Our eye doctors are trained in the latest advances in the optometry industry, and we are always happy to answer your questions and help you find the best treatments.
