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The majority of people treasure their vision above all other senses. Don’t take your eyes for granted. There’s a lot you can do to keep your eyes healthy — and it all starts with taking care of your overall health:
Whenever you spend time outdoors, you should wear UV blocking sunglasses. Without them, the sun’s UV rays can hasten the formation of cataracts in your eyes and can also cause retinal damage. Sunglasses also protect the delicate eyelid skin to prevent both wrinkles and skin cancer around the eye, as well as both cancerous and non-cancerous growths on the eye. Always make sure your sunglasses block 100 percent of UV-A rays and UV-B rays.
Smoking tobacco has been shown to cause numerous health problems and has been linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Studies have revealed that those who currently smoke, as well as those who used to smoke, are more likely to develop AMD than people who have never used tobacco. An increased risk of developing cataracts has also been shown among smokers. If you smoke, you should find a way to quit.
Make sure your diet is full of eye-healthy nutrients. The lack of certain vitamins can have adverse effects on your retinal function, so vegetables, especially leafy green ones, should be an important part of your diet. Studies have shown that a diet rich in vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA can help reduce the risk of developing early and advanced age-related macular degeneration.
Regardless whether you have a family history of eye disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, you should get a baseline eye disease screening at age 40. Even if you are not experiencing any symptoms, at this age, early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to occur. Based on what your eye doctor finds, he or she will prescribe the appropriate intervals for follow-up exams.
Each year an estimated 2.4 million eye injuries occur in the United States; 90 percent of these are preventable with the use of appropriate safety eyewear. That is why you should always wear the proper eye protection, whether it’s for your job, sports such as basketball and baseball, or home projects such as home repairs, gardening, and cleaning. Make sure the eyewear is up to the task at hand. For most repair projects and activities around the home, standard ANSI-approved protective eyewear will be sufficient. Sports and work eye protection should meet the specific requirements of that sport or industry; these requirements are usually established and certified by the sport’s / industry’s governing body and/or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
Having a family history of certain eye diseases can increase your risk of developing the same conditions. And cases of age-related eye diseases, including cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration are expected to dramatically increase — from 28 million today to 43 million by the year 2020. Early detection and treatment are crucial to preventing vision loss due to eye disease, and knowing your family history and your risk will help you and your eye doctor develop an appropriate screening plan.
Serious eye diseases, such as glaucoma and AMD, can cause severe vision loss and blindness if left untreated. Most vision loss that occurs due to eye disease is not reversible. That is why early diagnosis and treatment is so important. Early intervention now will prevent vision loss later. Make sure to carefully follow your eye doctor’s screening and treatment plans, if you’re at risk or have been diagnosed with an eye disease.
When it comes to vision care, you might encounter several types of providers, all of which have different levels of training and expertise. Opticians are technicians trained to design, verify and fit eyeglass lenses and frames, contact lenses, and other devices to correct eyesight based on a prescription from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Optometrists provide primary vision care ranging from sight testing and correction to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of certain types of eye diseases. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in vision care. They diagnose and treat all eye diseases and perform eye surgery. Make sure you are seeing the right provider for your condition or treatment.
Always follow your eye doctor’s instructions on how to use and care for your contact lenses. You could risk permanent damage to your eyes if you sleep in contacts that are not approved for overnight wear, use saliva or water as a wetting solution, use expired solutions, or use disposable contact lenses longer than recommended.
If you experience eye strain from working at a computer or doing close work, the 20-20-20 rule can help give your eyes a break: Every 20 minutes look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. If you suffer from chronic eye fatigue, it might be a sign of several different conditions, such as dry eye, presbyopia, or glasses with lenses that are not properly centered. See an eye doctor to determine why you are having eye fatigue and to receive proper treatment.
