Your Eyes Deserve All the Care You Can Give

Your eyes help you see – not only watch life go around, but also identify people, objects, and danger in a split second. They are an important part of your health, and can easily be overlooked when it comes to body care. However, if you consider making the following changes, you can easily maintain healthy eyes well into your golden years. Get Your Eyes Checked Regularly Just like all your other body systems, your eyes need regular checkups. While you might feel that your vision is fine and your eyes are healthy, scheduling an appointment with Focal Point Vision or visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive eye exam is the way to confirm that everything is fine. This measure is especially important if anyone in your family has been diagnosed with an eye-related disease or disorder since many can be hereditary. Talk to your family members about their eye health history, for this will help you to determine if you are at higher risk for developing any conditions. Enrich your diet We have all heard that carrots are good for your eyes, but eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is important for keeping your eyes healthy. So, you will want to incorporate more dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and collard greens into your daily recipes. Research has also shown foods high in omega-3 fatty acids – such as walnuts, chia seeds, ground flaxseeds, and flaxseed oil, canola oil and tofu – also promote great health for the eyes. Additionally, quit smoking (or don’t start now!). Smoking has been linked to higher risks of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage – conditions that can lead to blindness. Watch your weight While your weight may seem irrelevant to eyes, obesity increases the risk of systemic problems such as diabetes, which can lead to vision loss in cases of diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. Protect your eyes rnAside from fashion, sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When investing in new shades, opt for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiations. On the other hand, you should consider wearing special protective eyewear while playing sports or performing certain physical activities at home, especially those involving splashing chemicals like detergents or spray cleaners. Give your eyes a break Many of us spend hours every day staring at a computer screen, or our phones. To give your eyes a well-deserved rest and reduce eyestrain, adopt the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at an object that is located about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. You should also always remember to give your eyes a break from contact lenses, and as a rule of thumb, you must never ever sleep with your lenses on. Your eyes may go through changes that are slow, subtle, and easy to miss; that’s why it’s important to have your eyes checked by a professional on a regular basis. While most eye and vision problems can be treated, you can easily avoid them by making simple lifestyle changes.