Your eyes are an important part of
your health. There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make
sure you are seeing your best. Follow these simple steps for maintaining
healthy eyes well into your golden years.
Have a comprehensive dilated eye
exam. You might think your vision is fine
or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a
comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really
be sure. When it comes
to common vision problems, some people don’t realize they could see better with
glasses or contact lenses. In addition, many common eye diseases such as
glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration often have
no warning signs. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases
in their early stages.
During a comprehensive dilated eye
exam, your eye care professional places drops in your eyes to dilate, or widen,
the pupil to allow more light to enter the eye the same way an open door lets
more light into a dark room. This enables your eye care professional to get a
good look at the back of the eyes and examine them for any signs of damage or
disease. Your eye care professional is the only one who can determine if your
eyes are healthy and if you’re seeing your best.
Know your family’s eye health
history. Talk to your family members about
their eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed
with a disease or condition since many are hereditary. This will help to
determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.
Eat right to protect your sight. You’ve heard carrots are good for your eyes. But eating a
diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as
spinach, kale, or collard greens is important for keeping your eyes healthy,
too.i
Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in
omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing
diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as
diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. If you are having trouble maintaining a
healthy weight, talk to your doctor.
Wear protective eyewear. Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing
activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and
goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the
correct protection for a certain activity. Most protective eyewear lenses are
made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than other plastics. Many eye
care providers sell protective eyewear, as do some sporting goods stores.
Quit smoking or never start. Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of
your body. Research has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing
age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage, all of
which can lead to blindness.ii, iii
Be cool and wear your shades. Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, but their most
important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When
purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both
UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on
any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued.
Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of
you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.
Clean your hands and your contact
lenses—properly. To avoid the risk of infection,
always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact
lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as
appropriate.
Practice workplace eye safety. Employers are required to provide a safe work environment.
When protective eye wear is required as a part of your job, make a habit of
wearing the appropriate type at all times and encourage your coworkers to do the
same.
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health tips for your better healthy life style.