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.
1.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.
2.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.
3.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.
4.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.
5.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.
6.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.
7.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.
8.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.
9.Clean your hands and your contact lensesproperly:
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.
10.Practice workplace eye safety:
Employers are required to provide a safe work environment.
When protective eyewear 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.
0 comments:
Post a Comment