Care for your eyes now to avoid future vision problems. A few lifestyle modifications could ensure they remain healthy for years to come.
Consuming well is vital to good eye health. A balanced diet should consist of plenty of green leafy vegetables, fruits and fish.
Wear Sunglasses
Sunglasses are more than just fashion accessories; they can help improve your vision and protect your eyes from UV radiation. Look for sunglasses with UV protection as well as wraparound frames to cover all sides of the eyes from possible side-impact damage.
UV radiation exposure from the sun’s UV rays has been linked with cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium; sunglasses with UV protection can protect eyes against these risks and ensure longer-term eye health.
Other preventive measures (such as wearing a hat when playing outside or using an anti-glare filter on your computer screen) can make life easier while keeping your eyes healthier for longer. Sunglasses look great while remaining more practical than hiding behind scarves or hats when outdoors to play sports.
Give Your Eyes a Rest
Long hours spent reading, driving or staring at bright screens can cause eye strain. This visual fatigue manifests itself with itching, burning and the urge to rub your eyes, but it can be avoided by taking short 20-second breaks every 20 minutes and focusing on an object at least 20 feet away.
An abundance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants is key to maintaining clear vision. Try including fish, leafy green vegetables, eggs and nuts into your daily routine; these foods provide key eye nutrients such as lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and zinc, which all can reduce your risk for serious eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
Cleaning your eyes with cool water can also be very helpful; try doing so daily, nightly or whenever there’s any sign of eye strain.
Know Your Family’s Eye Health History
Many people do not realize that eye conditions and diseases can be passed down through families. If glaucoma runs in your family tree, for instance, your risk may increase considerably and vice versa.
At family gatherings, it’s a good idea to use this time as an opportunity to inquire about the health histories of parents, siblings and other relatives – particularly eye health – of all those present. Knowing whether anyone in your family has had a history of glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, or other eye diseases will help determine your risk and plan regular appointments with your eye doctor for any potential problems that might arise early.
Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and Omega-3 fatty acids, as well as not smoking or getting adequate sleep, are also great preventive steps that can lower your risk of serious eye conditions.
Eat Right to Protect Your Sight
Eating a diet full of nutritious food is crucial to maintaining good eyesight. A diet rich in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene, lutein, zinc and vitamins C and E will do wonders to protect eye health.
Leafy greens such as spinach and kale contain high concentrations of vitamin C, which helps protect the eyes from UV light damage. Furthermore, their abundance of lutein and zeaxanthin helps guard against age-related changes to retina and lens structures.
Introduce fish and other forms of seafood into your diet two to three times every week for an abundance of omega-3 fatty acids – proven to lower risks of macular degeneration and dry eye. Also, make sure that you eat plenty of vegetables, fruit and whole grains to support overall wellness.
Schedule Your Annual Eye Exam
Maintaining regular eye exams is an invaluable way to protect your vision. A visit with your eye care provider allows them to assess both your overall vision and eye health – as well as help detect conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration early.
An eye exam involves various small tests designed to give your doctor an in-depth view of how your eyes focus, move, and work together. It’s recommended that everyone get an eye exam every year or according to instructions from their physician to detect vision issues early and detect diseases at their early stages. Some people need more frequent exams due to family histories of eye disease or certain ethnic backgrounds predisposing them to certain conditions.
Book your eye exam with our Orangeville Optometrists today at 519-941-6761!
