Last Updated on October 27, 2024 by Jacques Wong, B.Sc.
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For soon-to-be insurance exam takers, there are a lot of factors to consider to help ensure your success. Among these factors, it’s important not to overlook your eye health. According to eye health surveys from Statistics Canada, the proportion of the population that reported having good vision without correction was about 75% in 2020. However, the numbers dwindle as the population ages, with the proportion being considerably lower for those aged 45 to 49 years and resting at 25% for those aged 55 and older.
Researchers state that self-reported eye health has generally improved over the years. However, it’s important to note that not everyone may be aware of their eye health status or any other preexisting health conditions that may impact vision and eye health in the long term. Today, eye health is considered an indicator of your general health. Unfortunately, only a few studies on eye health have been done in Canada, and the ones that do exist do not cover several years of data.
If you’re studying for your insurance exam, it’s important not to underestimate the impact of vision and eye health on your ability to take your exams and perform optimally. Fortunately, there are lots of simple lifestyle changes you can consider to help maintain healthy vision. Below, we’ll be sharing a few tips:
Blue light protection
One of the most important “first aids” for protecting your vision and eyes is to wear glasses, especially if you need vision correction. However, as discussed in our previous post, many learners today spend time learning on-the-go through audio lectures and mobile apps for a more accessible learning process. Using these digital methods, learners can study during commutes, workouts, and other downtime. However, looking at digital screens can also expose you to blue light, which is known to cause visual discomfort after long periods.
Fortunately, there are lots of options for blue light glasses in physical stores and online eyewear retailers today. Blue light filtering glasses are great for protecting your eyes from blue-violet light emitted from the sun and digital screens while allowing the good type of blue-turquoise light to enter the eye. Online retailer Eyebuydirect offers a variety of blue light lens coatings, including the EBDBlue 360 for anti-glare protection and the EBDBlue Smart if you need light-adjusting technology if you frequently go in- and out of doors when studying on the go.
Healthy nutrition
While studying for your insurance exam, your hands may be reaching out for the closest snacks and treats to keep you up and motivated. While there’s nothing wrong with this, it may help to consider specifically eye-healthy foods that are good for your eyes and contain sufficient nutrients and vitamins. This includes orange peppers, nuts and seeds, and ground flax seed, all of which are a big boost of eye nutrients.
In contrast, you may want to avoid food and snacks that can be detrimental for your eye health when studying. This includes white bread and pasta which are simply carbohydrates and have been linked with a higher risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss for older adults. Fried foods, which are high in trans fats, can also raise your cholesterol levels that can damage and even kill cells related to eye disease, including AMD and diabetic retinopathy.
Quality sleep
Finally, another crucial exam study tip that can also be beneficial for maintaining healthy vision is to prioritize good quality sleep. Much like the brain and the rest of your body, your eyes rely on proper sleep to heal after a long day. Waking up after bad quality sleep can lead to dry, itchy, or bloodshot eyes, which can impact your ability to perform well for your insurance exam. A lack of sleep may also lead to eye twitches or spasms as well as light sensitivity.
In fact, poor sleep may even impact your ability to think for your insurance exam. A night of poor-quality sleep can lead to brain fog, grogginess, or even memory issues, which can significantly impact exam results if you keep the habit going for too long. Some studies have even found links between lack of good quality sleep with the development of age-related memory issues like dementia.