As we age, the risk of certain eye diseases may increase. However, there is a lot you can do to keep your eyes healthy, and the first thing is to take care of your overall health.
Prepare to see your best for a lifetime with these 8 tips from National Eye Institute experts for Healthy Vision Month in May:
1. Find a trusted eye doctor
Many eye diseases have no initial symptoms, so you could have a problem without knowing it. An eye doctor can help you maintain good eye health.
To find an eye doctor you trust, ask your friends and family if they are happy with their doctors. You can also check with your health insurance plan to find eye doctors near you.
2. Ask how often you need a dilated eye exam
Getting a dilated eye exam is the best thing you can do for the health of your eyes. It is the only way to detect eye diseases early, when they are easiest to treat and before they cause vision loss.
Your eye doctor will decide how often you need an exam based on your risk for eye diseases.
3. Incorporate more physical activity into your day
Physical activity can reduce the risk of conditions that can affect vision, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
If you struggle to find time for physical activity, try incorporating it into other activities.
Walk while talking on the phone, do push-ups or stretches while watching TV, or dance while doing housework. Anything that makes your heart race counts.
4. Encourage your family to talk about your eye health history
Some eye diseases, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, can be inherited.
Although it may not be the most exciting topic of conversation, talking about your family’s medical history can help everyone stay healthy.
The next time you talk to your family members, ask them if anyone knows of any eye problems in their family. Be sure to share the information with your eye doctor to determine if you need to take steps to reduce your risk.
5. Improve your healthy eating habits
A healthy diet helps prevent health problems, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, which can increase the risk of eye problems.
Eat a proper diet to take care of your eyesight by incorporating more eye-friendly foods into your diet, such as dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, and collard greens) and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon, halibut, or tuna).
6. Get in the habit of wearing sunglasses, even on cloudy days
The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can not only damage your skin, but also your eyes. However, wearing sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB radiation can protect your eyes and reduce the risk of cataracts.
7. Manage chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure
Diabetes and high blood pressure can increase the risk of some eye diseases, such as glaucoma.
If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about steps you can take to manage your condition and reduce your risk of vision loss.
8. If you smoke, make a plan to quit smoking
Quitting smoking is good for your entire body, including your eyes. Kicking the habit can help reduce your risk of eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
Quitting smoking is difficult, but it is possible, and a plan can help.
Test your eye health knowledge with a short questionnaire and find more vision resources at nei.nih.gov/hvm.
