Simple Tips for Healthy Eyes

Your eyes are an important part of your health. There are many things you
can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best.
Follow these simple steps for maintaining healthy eyes well into your golden
years.

HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE DILATED EYE EXAM. You might think your
vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care
professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really
be sure. When it comes to common vision problems, some people don’t
realize they could see better with glasses or contact lenses. In addition,
many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-
related macular degeneration often have no warning signs. A dilated eye
exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages.
During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, your eye care professional places
drops in your eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupil to allow more light to
enter the eye the same way an open door lets more light into a dark room.
This enables your eye care professional to get a good look at the back of
the eyes and examine them for any signs of damage or disease. Your eye
care professional is the only one who can determine if your eyes are
healthy and if you’re seeing your best.

KNOW YOUR FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY. Talk to your family
members about their eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone
has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary.
This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye
disease or condition.

EAT RIGHT TO PROTECT YOUR SIGHT. You’ve heard carrots are good for
your eyes. But eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark
leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens is important for
keeping your eyes healthy, too. i Research has also shown there are eye
health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as
salmon, tuna, and halibut.

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT. Being overweight or obese increases your
risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to
vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. If you are having
trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.

WEAR PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR. Wear protective eyewear when playing
sports or doing activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes
safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed
to provide the correct protection for a certain activity. Most protective
eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than
other plastics. Many eye care providers sell protective eyewear, as do some
sporting goods stores.

QUIT SMOKING OR NEVER START. Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is
for the rest of your body. Research has linked smoking to an increased risk
of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve
damage, all of which can lead to blindness. ii,

BE COOL AND WEAR YOUR SHADES. Sunglasses are a great fashion
accessory, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the
sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block
out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time at the computer or
focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can
get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about
20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.

CLEAN YOUR HANDS AND YOUR CONTACT LENSES PROPERLY. To avoid the
risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or
taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as
instructed and replace them as appropriate.

PRACTICE WORKPLACE EYE SAFETY. Employers are required to provide a
safe work environment. When protective eyewear is required as a part of
your job, make a habit of wearing the appropriate type at all times and
encourage your coworkers to do the same.

...............................NEI

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