Tips To Maintain Eye Health & Vision

When asked “What value your vision is to you”, most people would probably reply that their eyesight is priceless! Our eyes go to work for us from the very moment we wake up and don’t stop until we go to sleep. So much of how we interpret and understand our world is visual… that is why it is very important to keep and maintain our eye health and vision! There are many factors that play into healthy eyes. Some of the factors are out of our control, such as family history. However, there are other extra precautions that a person can take to help maintain their eye health and promote good vision.

Have Routine Eye Exams To Maintain Eye Health

Your eyes deserve a routine eye exam! One of the easiest ways to help maintain eye health, is by having routine eye exams. During a routine eye exam, your optometrist not only checks your vision to see if you require a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, but he also assesses the health of your eyes as well. There are many eye diseases and conditions which can go unnoticed unless detected through an eye exam. Some of these diseases, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, progress slowly. These diseases cause irreversible vision loss and damage, and slowly robs a person of their sight. If diagnosed and treated in the early stages, the progression of these diseases can often be slowed or even stopped. There are many other conditions and diseases such as certain types of brain tumours, systemic diseases, and cancers which also can be caught by assessing the health of the eyes during a routine exam. So by having a recommended eye exam every 1-2 years, you will ensure that your eyes are functioning at their best!

Protect Your Eyes From The Sun

The majority of us know the dangers of ultra violet (UV) radiation from sun exposure. Cumulative exposure of UV rays from the sun can cause damage to the delicate tissue and skin around the eyes. Damage from UV exposure to the eyes, is often not apparent right away. It is often in our later years of life, when we start to see the cumulative damage done and the effects of UV on our eye health. Cataracts, are probably one of the most common eye conditions that affect our eyes in our golden years of life. Cataracts, are a clouding of the lens within the eye that typically occurs with aging. However, years of chronic sun exposure can increase the risk of cataracts and also the rate at which they progress. Along with cataracts, UV exposure also increases the risk of other eye problems and conditions. Macular degeneration, pterygium, and pingueculas are just a few eye problems that can arise due to UV exposure. One of the best ways to protect the eyes from UV, is to wear sunglasses while outside, even in overcast conditions and limit the amount of time spent in the sun!

Eat Vitamin Rich Eye Foods

Another way to help ensure that your eyes stay healthy, is by eating foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals which help with eye health! It is a proven fact that diet plays a big role in the health of the body, our eyes are no different. Good nutrition, and eating the right foods can help prevent and delay certain eye problems. By eating non-nutritious foods, and consuming a diet high in sugar and saturated fats, you may increase your risk of eye diseases and eye related problems. However, by making healthy choices and making sure your diet is composed of nutritious foods, such as fruits and greens, you can help prevent certain eye diseases and other health problems.

Wear Eye Protection

Another way to keep our eyes in their best shape, is to help reduce potential eye injuries by wearing eye protection. Many activities come with an associated risk of injury. Our eyes can be hurt and damaged just like any other part of our body. That is why it is important that when performing certain activities or sports, that we protect our eyes with protective devices such as safety glasses, sports specific eyewear, or impact resistant sunglasses, such as Oakley.

Don’t Smoke!

Smoking causes damage and harm to almost every organ in the body — including the eyes. Smoking significantly increase the risk of developing eye health problems, such as cataracts, compared to non-smokers. As well, the risk of developing an eye diseases such as macular degeneration, is increased by 3 times, compared to that of non-smokers. So in short, smoking is just NOT GOOD! You will do not only your eyes a favour, but your whole body good, if you just DON’t smoke!

So by practicing the tips above, you can help promote good eye health and in return maintain good vision!

Article written by: Trina Vanaalst