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抰 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抮e seeing your best.
Know your family抯 eye health history. Talk to your family members about their
eye health history. It抯 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抳e 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抯 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梡roperly. 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 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.
