Healthy eyes are an important part of your overall health plan. There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best. Follow these simple steps as you age:
- Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Your vision may seem fine to you but the only way to make sure your eyes are healthy is to be seen on a regular basis by your eye doctor. Having a dilated exam allows your eye doctor to see the entire interior of your eyes for early detection of common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD.) Most of these eye diseases have no warning signs and early detection is critical to successfully administer treatment and save vision.
- Know your family’s eye health history. This is especially true of parents. Many eye diseases are hereditary and you would be at higher risk if your parents also had eye diseases such as glaucoma.
- Eat healthy. Carrots aren’t the only healthy food for your eyes. Eating fruits and vegetables and food high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, tuna, and halibut have been shown to prevent, and possibly slow, the progression of retinal disease.
- Quit smoking. Smoking is just as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body.
- Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time on the computer remember the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes look away about 20 feet for 20 seconds.
- Wear your sunglasses. Protection for your eyes against UV rays is just as important as protecting your skin.
- Protect your eyes. Whether you are at work or at home, practice good eye safety by wearing protective eyewear. Most eye injuries occur at home and during casual sports.
- Contact lens care. If you are a contact lens wearer, following instructions from your eye care provider is the key to a long, healthy future of wear. Your vision and eye health can be damaged from over wearing lenses, dirty lenses, not changing your solution, or using something other than approved solutions.