We’re all getting older and, as a part of that experience, there are certain bodily changes we have to expect. Our risk of chronic disease goes up, we’re more likely to put on (and to keep) the pounds. And we all experience a few aches and pains here and there.
One change that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible is those associated with your eyesight. Keeping an eye on your eye health’s not as difficult as you might think. Here, we’re going to look at how to ensure you’re giving your eyes the proper care that they need as the years go on.
See the sense in a good diet
As with pretty much all aspects of your health, your eye health is also directly tied to what you eat. First of all, the process of aging affects your eyes most of all. Antioxidants can ease the oxidative stress that leads to aging can indeed be very helpful to your eyes.
You need plenty of vitamin A, vitamin C. The essential omega-3 fatty acids that are key to the health of the macular, which is the part that is in charge of central vision. Websites like www.myfitnesspal.com can help you put together diets and monitor your overall nutritional intake. So that, every day, you can look over your results and see what you need to improve.
Be careful of blue light
Most digital technology, such as smartphones, monitors, and smart TVs, produce blue light. Though there has yet to be any conclusive evidence as to whether blue light has any contribution towards things like cataracts, there are real concerns that it can do some damage to your retina.
This damage can contribute to issues like age-related macular degeneration, the most common form of vision loss. For that reason, you want to limit your screen time when possible and using blue light filters. And, you want to make sure that you have plenty of natural light to contrast these, even when you do have your face pressed up to a monitor.
Start phasing smoking out of your life
Just as it can affect most other aspects of your health, smoking can also affect your eyes. In fact, smoking has been very closely linked to cataracts, one of the leading causes of blindness. The damage that smoking does to your blood vessels can also affect your optic nerve. As well as contributing to your risk of age-related macular degeneration.
There are sites like www.smokefree.gov that can help you quit smoking, as well as various paths to help you cut down. This can include nicotine patches, vape pens, and more. Smoking greatly increases your chances of a plethora of chronic diseases. These include cancer, heart disease, and more, so it’s worth kicking the habit for a whole multitude of reasons.
Correct your vision
If you are diagnosed with issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, macular degeneration, or any other form of vision changes, then you need to get into the habit of wearing your corrective devices, whether they be glasses or contact lenses.
It sounds like a no-brainer, but a lot of people get diagnosed, get glasses, and then forget to wear them the vast majority of the time that they actually need to. Websites like www.eyeglasses.com make it easy to get spare pairs so you can make sure you keep glasses where you’re most likely to need them. Aside from having a pair at home, having a pair in the office as well, as in the glove box compartment of the car can help you cement the habit of wearing your glasses.
Watch out for that sun
While exposure to natural light is all well and good, you want to be aware of the risks of UV light damage to your eyes, as well. There’s a very good reason we don’t look directly at the sun.
Too much UV exposure can directly increase your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. As such, if it’s a particularly bright and sunny day, or you’re just spending a lot of time outside, then you should wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Make sure that they have a mark of certification that shows they block both UVA and UVB light. You can also use a wide-brimmed hat to shade your eyes, of course.
Wear protective gear when you work
Though it’s a very different kind of risk to most of the chronic risk factors mentioned above, the damage that trauma can do to your eyes is one that shouldn’t be ignored.
Consider the risks of your workplace. If there are any particulates that can spread through the air or if there is a risk of any kind of material debris flying into the air, then you should use PPE to protect your eyes. For instance, if you work with wood in a workshop, then a good pair of wraparound goggles will protect your eyes from both sawdust in the air and the risk of little bits of wood flying upwards.
Keeping an eye on your eye health
Most people do not need to have an eye exam done that often. But if you haven’t had your eyesight checked in over a decade or you have never had it done before, it’s worth getting it done. Even if there is no cause for concern, it’s important to set a benchmark. This will ensure your future eye tests can be compared against your benchmark test. Around the age of 65 is when eyesight loss starts to become more common. At this age, it’s recommended that you make it part of your annual physical. This to ensure that you’re adapting to any eyesight changes as soon as possible and take good care of your eyes.
You can’t prevent every kind of change to your vision. As time goes on, it’s more likely than not we’re all going to experience some kind of change to our vision. However, with the tips above you can at least always make sure you’re doing what you can to protect what you got.
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