The eye is one of the most vital organs for us that shows the beautiful world to us. So, it would help if you did not take it for granted. If you have good vision, you can perform well everywhere. Following few simple steps, you can obtain optimum vision and protect your eyesight. Here are some tips to help maintain eye health as you age.
1. Eat balanced food
To keep our vital organs sound and healthy, we must start with the food on our plates. Good eye health’s building blocks are nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C and E, lutein, and zinc. Furthermore, these key nutrients help ward off age-related vision problems like cataracts and macular degeneration. So, which foods may help you out to fill the gap? Here is a list –
- Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and collards
- Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
- Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices
- Eggs, nuts, beans, and other nonmeat protein sources
- Oysters and pork
A well-balanced diet not only keeps your eye health good but also helps you to maintain a healthy weight. As a result, you keep yourself away from obesity-related diseases like type2 diabetes, which often cause blindness in adults.
Related post – Is the food pyramid still relevant?
2. Quit Smoking
Though connection has not been clearly identified yet, but smoking indeed exposes eyes to high levels of oxidative stress. As a result, smoking increases the risk for various health conditions that can affect the eye. Some of the hazards it may cause are getting cataracts, damage to the optic nerve, macular degeneration, and many other medical problems. So, kick the habit of smoking. The more you try, the more you will succeed. If needed, take help from your doctor.
3. Wear Sunglasses
Too much UV exposure boosts your chances of cataracts and macular degeneration. So, using the right pair of shades will protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. A pair of UV protective sunglasses block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays; additionally, if the lenses are wraparound, that protects the eyes from the side. Polarized lenses maybe your favorite choice, but that doesn’t necessarily offer any added protection for your information. If you wear contact lenses, some offer UV protection. It’s still a good idea to wear sunglasses for an extra layer.
4. Protect your eyes with safe eyewear
Many of us use hazardous or airborne materials on the job or during play at home. Hence, wearing safety glasses or protective goggles is a wise decision here to protect our eye health from any kind of injury. Sports like ice hockey, cricket, racquetball, and lacrosse can also lead to an eye injury. Helmets with protective face masks or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses will shield your eyes.
5. Protect your eyes from Computer Screen
Staring at computer or mobile can cause several eye discomforts like –
- Eyestrain
- Dry eyes
- Blurry vision
- Headaches
- Trouble focusing at a distance
- Neck, back, and shoulder pain
So, to protect your eyes from such problems, you need to follow certain guidelines:
- Make sure your glasses or contacts are up to date and optimal for looking at a computer screen.
- If needed, consult with your doctor if your eye strain won’t go away automatically.
- Adjust the screen of your computer, so your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. That lets you look slightly down at the screen.
- Use an anti-glare screen if needed to avoid reflection.
- Maintain good posture. Choose a comfortable, supportive chair so that your feet are flat on the floor.
- Blink your eyes after every specific interval to avoid dry eyes.
- Take a break in every 20 minutes. Look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Get up at least every 2 hours and take a 15-minute break.
6. Wash your hands
You must be cautious enough while touching your eyes with your hands, especially if you are a contact lens wearer. Before touching your eyes or handling a contact lens, wash your hands with mild soap and dry with a lint-free towel. This prevents you from eye infections like bacterial conjunctivitis. You are also rubbing your eyes while you have cold virus germs transferred to your hands.
7. Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly
Everyone, including young children, needs a regular eye exam which helps protect the sight and lets you see your best. Besides, eye exams can also find diseases like glaucoma that have no symptoms. It’s important to spot them early on so that they can be treated easily. Now, you may need two types of doctors:
- Ophthalmologists – who are medical doctors with a specialization in eye care. They can provide general eye care, treat eye diseases, and perform eye surgery.
- Optometrists have had 4 years of specialized training and provide general eye care and can diagnose and treat most eye diseases. They don’t do eye surgery.
With the help of a comprehensive eye exam, you can:
- Talk about your personal and family medical history.
- Performs vision tests to see if you’re nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism (a curved cornea that blurs vision), or presbyopia (age-related vision changes)
- Eye pressure and optic nerve tests to check for glaucoma
- Tests to see how well your eyes work together
- External and microscopic examination of your eyes before and after dilation
You might also need other tests.