If you have never had trouble with your vision, then protecting it is probably not something you give a lot of thought to. It’s easy to take good vision for granted and assume that it will always last.
But the reality is that as you get older, many changes to your vision can occur. Your risk of developing eyes diseases like glaucoma and cataracts increases. By age 80, over half of all Americans have either developed cataracts or had cataract surgery.
Fortunately, even taking small preventative measures early on can help protect your vision. Here are five tips for protecting your vision:
- Eat a healthy diet
Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the best ways you can preserve your vision. Drink plenty of water and eat a diet that is rich in leafy greens, Omega 3’s, and fiber.
- Stop smoking immediately
Smoking is not just bad for your lungs, it is bad for your eyes as well. Smoking increases your risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration and often causes dry eyes.
- Protect your eyes from the sun
Sun damage can cause both macular degeneration and cataracts. You should always wear sunglasses and a hat every time you spend time outdoors to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays. Look for sunglasses that offer 100 percent UV protection.
- Minimize eye strain
If you spend quite a bit of time working at a computer throughout the day, you are at risk for developing eye strain. To prevent this, try to give your eyes a 20-second break every 20 minutes or so.
- Have yearly comprehensive eye exams
The best way to protect your vision is by catching any problems early on. This is because most common eye diseases are very treatable if caught early enough. Yearly comprehensive eye exams are the best way to catch a variety of problems early on and ensure that you get the treatment you need.
Many vision problems are just the natural result of aging but you can take preventative steps to protect the long-term health of your eyes. Hopefully, this article has given you some useful suggestions for how you can start taking better care of your eyes. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors.
