It is vital that you keep your eyes healthy and never take them for granted. Good vision keeps you on top of things, whether you are home, at work, or even behind the wheel. However, the 2018 National Health Survey revealed that 23 million American adults have some form of vision loss. While this number is certainly undesirable and also given the fact that it’s nearly impossible to avoid all eye issues, there are still many things which you can do to reduce your chances of vision loss or eye disease in the future. The following are some tips to help you maintain good eye health as you age.
1. Maintain Good Health Overall
Protecting your eye health starts with protecting your overall health. When you consciously make healthy choices and take care of yourself, you avoid diseases that can lead to eye problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Eat a balanced diet.
Be sure to eat plenty of green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, as well as oranges and other citrus fruits, oily fishes like tuna and salmon, pork, shellfish, and other protein sources like eggs, nuts, and beans.
Be physically active.
Exercising regularly can improve your cardiovascular health, thereby improving your eyes' oxygen level.
Don't smoke.
Smoking can lead to various medical problems, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and optic nerve damage.
2. Safeguard Your Eyes
Unfortunately, there are everyday activities that are necessary, unavoidable, and put your eyes in harm's way. On days like these, make sure to protect your eyes from anything that can damage them.
Wear sunglasses.
Protect your eyes from the sun. Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays increases your chances of eye problems. Wear the right pair of sunglasses when going out in the sun and look for those that block 99-100% of both UVA and UVB radiation.
Wear safety goggles.
If you have a job or play a sport that puts your eyes at risk, make sure to wear safety goggles. Safety goggles protect your eyes during certain activities like construction work, home repairs, lawn care, and sports like hockey, lacrosse, and racquetball. Use protective goggles for any hazardous activities involving dangerous airborne materials at home or on the job.
Rest your eyes often when looking at screens.
Looking at a computer or phone screen for too long is unhealthy. Make sure to take a break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Not taking rests can lead to eye strain, dry eyes, headaches, and blurry vision.
You can protect your eyes by ensuring your glasses’ or contacts’ prescription is up to date. You may also consider wearing blue-light filtering glasses or installing anti-glare screens. Also, be sure that you aren’t straining when using a computer. Position yourself in a comfortable chair, move the screen so its top edge is slightly below eye level, and maintain about 24 inches from the screen.
Take extra precautions if you are wearing contacts.
If you wear contacts, make sure that you take the necessary steps to avoid eye infections. Wash your hands thoroughly when putting in or taking out your contact lenses, and have your contacts disinfected and replaced regularly.
3. Get Your Eyes Checked Regularly
Both adults and children need their eyes tested to check for vision or eye problems. Regular eye exams can help identify diseases as early as possible; the earlier they are detected, the easier they are to treat. There are two types of doctors one can see depending on their eye needs:
- Ophthalmologists are medical doctors that can provide general eye care and perform medical and surgical interventions.
- Optometrists are eye doctors that can provide general eye care, diagnose and treat most eye diseases but cannot do eye surgery.
Keep your eyes healthy with Oculi Vision! Be sure to maintain a healthy lifestyle, take precautions, protect yourself, and have your eyes examined regularly. We encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns regarding this subject.
