There’s a lot you can do to keep your eyes healthy. Many of us take our eyesight for granted, but it’s one of your most important senses. Consider that 80 percent of what you perceive comes from your eyes. By protecting your vision, you can reduce the odds of developing cataracts and glaucoma while keeping on top of other degenerative eye diseases.
Below are some of the best practices to maintain healthy eyes.
Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam
Regular eye exams are an important part of staying healthy. Not only do these exams tell the eye doctor about your vision, but also they can reveal diabetes, stress and retinal detachment. Talk to your ophthalmologist about how often you should schedule a visit.
As long as you’re healthy, your eye checkups will likely follow this agenda:
- Every 5-10 years in your 20s
- Every 2-4 years from age 40-45
- Every 1-3 years from age 55-64
- Every 1-2 years after age 65
You will see your eye specialist more often if you wear glasses or contacts, have a family history of eye disease, have a chronic condition that affects your vision or take certain medications.
Eat a Well Balanced Diet
Eating healthy is one of the best things you can do for your health. If you’re not getting enough vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, free radicals in the body can harm the macula. High-fat diets can also create deposits that constrict blood flow in the arteries.
You don’t need a fancy diet to care for your vision. All you need to do is eat a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and fatty fish. These types of foods contain nutrients that protect the macula, which is responsible for central vision.
Exercise Daily
Health experts recommend getting 30 minutes a day of exercise most days of the week. Not only does this help you maintain a healthy weight, but also it protects your overall health. Exercise improves circulation, which brings more oxygen to the eyes. With proper blood flow and oxygen, it’s possible to strengthen the retina and optic nerve and remove toxins.
Get Your Eyes Dilated
A dilated eye exam is similar to a regular exam, except that your eyes are dilated using special eye drops. This is the best way to check for eye disease early on. Many eye diseases are silent and cause damage without people realizing until it’s too late. Dilating the eyes is simple and painless and should be done every 1-2 years once you turn 60.
Wear Sunglasses and Safety Goggles
Protect your eyes from UVA and UVB damage by wearing sunglasses – even in the winter. During summer days, give yourself extra protection by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. This prevents UV light from slipping through on the sides. When playing sports, be sure to wear the proper eye protection.
Devices and Blue Light
You probably spend a lot of time on your digital devices, but it’s possible that the blue light emitted from them can damage your retina and cause eye strain and fatigue. Wear blue light glasses to cut down on these symptoms and be sure to take frequent breaks. Lubricant drops can add much-needed moisture to your eyes as well.
These are some of the best things you can do to keep your eyes healthy and strong. You only get one pair of eyes so it’s important to treat them right!