Let’s talk about how to keep your eyes healthy. The first piece of advice… get your dilated eye exams! It’s the single best thing you can do for your eye health. If you haven’t had an exam in 2 years or more, you need to schedule an appointment. As we age, we have an increased risk of eye diseases, especially if you:
- Have a family history of eye disease
- Are significantly overweight
- Are of African American or Native American descent
- Have diabetes or high blood pressure
If you’re worried about being at risk for eye disease, talk to your eye doctor.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH!
Maintaining good overall health is important to keeping those eyes of yours healthy. Healthy habits and eating a healthy diet can lower your risk for all sorts of conditions that can lead to vision problems.
- Get moving! Physical activity helps you stay healthy and lower your risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.
- Eat healthy! Dark leafy greens like kale, spinach and collard greens are excellent sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, potent antioxidants that help with vision. Eating fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, like tuna and salmon are good for the eye as well.
- Quit smoking! Smoking doesn’t just damage your lungs. Smoking increases your risk of eye diseases like macular degeneration, cataracts, and it can also harm the optic nerve. If you need help quitting smoking, talk to your Primary Care Doctor or visit www. smokefree.gov for resources.
PROTECT YOUR EYES!
We talk about eye protection all the time because it’s so important. Here are ways you can help:
- Wear sunglasses that block 99-100% of both UVA and UVB radiation.
- Wear safety glasses when working on the yard, doing home repairs and playing sports.
- Give your eyes the rest they need by taking a break from devices. Rest your eyes by taking a break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
- Contact lens wearers: WASH YOUR HANDS! Always wash your hands before putting in or removing your contact lenses. Also be sure to disinfect your contacts and replace them regularly. Avoid sleeping in your contacts, your eyes will appreciate the break and risk of infection is greatly reduced.
If you experience any issues or concerns with your eyes and/or vision. Please do not hesitate and reach out to us. We have 8 ophthalmologists covering 6 eye care specialties and are honored to serve our patients. If this blog reminded you that you are due for a dilated eye exam, call us today at 434-947-3984.