Keeping your eyes healthy and protecting them is not as difficult as you may think. A healthy diet, regular exercise, the right eyewear protection and regular check ups is a simple formula for keeping your eyes healthy!
Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exam
The single best thing you can do for your eye health is to get regular annual dilated eye exams! Even if you are feeling healthy and have good eyesight you may have a problem and not know it. A dilated eye exam is the only way to check for many eye diseases. And many eye diseases are easier to treat when they are caught early!
Are You At Risk for Eye Diseases?
Ageing increases your risk for some eye diseases. You may also be at higher risk of some eye diseases if you:
- Are overweight or obese
- Have a family history of eye disease
- Are African American, Hispanic, or Native American
Many health conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure, will also increase your risk for some eye diseases. For example, people with diabetes are at risk for diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic Retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness.
Know your family’s health history to find out if they’ve had any eye problems. Many eye diseases and conditions run in families, like age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma. Be sure to tell your eye doctor if any eye diseases run in your family.
If you’re worried you might be at risk for some eye diseases, talk to your doctor. You may be able to take steps to lower your risk.
Taking Care of Yourself
Keeping your eyes healthy is as simple protecting your overall health. Its important to make healthy choices that take good care of your body. Healthy habits like eating a well balanced diet and staying active can lower your risk for diseases and conditions that lead to health problems.
- Eat healthy foods that include plenty of dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale, collard greens and fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids.
- Stay active or get active. Just 30 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week will helath with health conditions too!
- Quit smoking! Its not only bad for your lungs but also your eyes, harming the optic nerve. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free support.
Protecting Your Eyes
These tips will help protect your eyes from harm:
- Wear Sunglasses, even on cloudy days. Look for sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation.
- Wear Safety glasses or goggles to protect your eyes for certain activities like sports, construction work or home repairs.
- Rest your weary eyes. Remember the 20/20 Rule! Look 20 feet away from computer screens every twenty minutes, for twenty minutes.
- Contact lens wearers should prevent eye infections by washing hands, disinfecting lenses or replacing them regularly.
For more helpful eye care and vision care tips, please visit our main blog page.
Source: National Eye Institute
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