As you get older, your eyes will be affected just like any other part of your body. This is especially true if you already have issues with your eyes. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to help protect your eyes and decrease the chances of eye issues in the future.
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1. Getting Regular Eye Checkups
The most important thing that you can do for your eyes is to make sure that you have regular checkups. Even if you have perfect vision, it is imperative to ensure that you still go to the eye doctor at least once a year. When you go to the eye doctor, they will look at your retina to make sure that you do not have any damage to the small blood vessels in your eye. They will also do routine checks for issues like glaucoma and cataracts. If you already have poor vision, you will need to get your glasses or contact lens prescription checked out every year to ensure that you are still seeing well.
2. Protecting Your Eyes From UV Rays
You should always be protecting your eyes from UV rays. UV rays can quickly damage your eyes, and that damage can quickly lead to blindness. You will want to wear sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB rays. It is important to protect your eyes even in cloudy weather as these rays are still present. You will also want to get filters for your computer screens, as blue lights can be just as harmful to your eyes.
3. Eating The Right Foods
There are right foods for your eye health and wrong foods for your eye health. Wrong foods include sugary foods and foods that have a lot of chemicals or fats. These foods can help to increase inflammation in your body, which can negatively affect your eyes. You should focus on getting healthy vitamins and minerals that will help. Foods like carrots, spinach, cabbage, citrus fruits, and melons can help to slow the progression of eye diseases like maculopathy and glaucoma. Anti-inflammatory foods can help to reduce inflammation, helping you to become healthier. When your overall body is healthier, your eyes will be healthier.
4. Taking Eye Vitamins
If you want to further increase your eye health, you will want to take eye vitamins. There are many different vitamins out there like lycopene, vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin E that can help your eye health. These vitamins can help to ensure that your eyes are healthy and put you at less risk for eye issues in the future. There are many different brands out there for eye vitamins, so make sure that you are taking ones that have great reviews.
5. Stop Smoking
If you are a smoker, you will want to try to give up that habit. Smoking increases your risk of eye issues like maculopathy. Smoking also increases your blood pressure which may have an effect on conditions like glaucoma. Speak to your doctor today about smoking, so that you can protect your eyes.
6. Get Active
One of the worst things that you can do for your eyes is to live a sedentary lifestyle. The more exercise that you do, the better your health will be, and that includes your eyes. When you exercise, this increases your circulation, which allows oxygen to be sent to the eyes. Exercise also eliminates toxins, which will help your eye health.
7. Avoid Eye Stress
Stressing your eyes can have a negative impact on them as you age. If you use a computer, cell phone, or tablet for long durations, you will want to take a break at least every half an hour to an hour. If you are busy, just take a 10-minute break and look away from your computer. The same goes for reading a book. If you strain your eyes, you will experience pain, dry eyes, and more. Taking frequent breaks will help to alleviate this issue.
Protecting your eyes is imperative so that you will have good vision as you age. Remember to see your eye doctor at least once a year, avoid eye strain, take vitamins, exercise, stop smoking, and your eyes will thank you for it.
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