Preventive eye care
Eight Ways To Protect Your Eyesight
Some type of sight-threatening eye problem affects one in six adults aged 45 and older. And the risk for vision loss only increases with age.
Tips for Protecting Your Eyes
1. Find out if you are at higher risk for eye diseases. Be aware of your family's health history. Do you or any of your family suffer from diabetes or have a history of high blood pressure? Are you over the age of 65?
Any or all of these traits increase your risk for sight-threatening eye diseases. Regular eye exams are particularly important, because an early diagnosis can limit any vision loss and help preserve your eyesight.
2. Have regular physical exams to check for diabetes and high blood pressure. If left untreated, these diseases can cause eye problems. In particular, diabetes and high blood pressure can lead to conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and ocular hypertension.
3. Look for warning signs of changes in your vision. If you start noticing changes in your vision, see your eye doctor immediately. Some trouble signs to look for include double vision, hazy vision, and difficulty seeing in low light conditions. Other signs to look for are frequent flashes of light, floaters, and eye pain and swelling. All of these symptoms can indicate a potential eye health problem that demands immediate attention.
4. Exercise more frequently. Regular exercise — such as walking — can reduce the risk of macular degeneration by up to 70%.
5. Protect your eyes from harmful UV light. You should always wear sunglasses with proper UV protection to shield your eyes from the sun's harmful rays.
6. Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Numerous studies have shown that antioxidants can possibly reduce the risk of cataracts. These antioxidants are obtained from eating a diet containing plentiful amounts of fruits and colorful or dark green vegetables. Studies have also shown that eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids might also prevent macular degeneration.
7. Get your eyes checked at least every two years. A thorough eye exam, including dilating your pupils, can determine your risk for major eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, which has no early warning signs or symptoms. An eye exam also can ensure that your vision prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses is up to date.
8. Don't smoke. The many dangers of smoking have been well documented. When it comes to eye health, people who smoke are at greater risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
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