Your eyes are important, everyone knows this, but not everyone takes the health of their eyes into consideration. It isn’t until something goes wrong, or we start to notice drastic shifts in the functioning of our eyes that most people start to stand up and take notice. Forgetting about the health of our eyes can be pretty easy, but just like with any other part of your body, preventative measures are the best steps to take in order to help avoid future health problems down the road.
Prevention is the best medicine, and it starts with obtaining the proper information. Check out these helpful tips and facts that will help protect your eyes and vision for the long haul:
Watch what you eat
According to Rebecca Taylor, M.D., an ophthalmologist and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, eating well is the No. 1 way to take care of your eyes. Eating healthy is the best way to achieve this, as many fruits and vegetables are excellent for the eyes. The best way is to eat well is just to eat healthy and have a well-rounded diet. Make sure every meal is balanced as well as colorful!
Protect your eyes from the sun
Even during the winter, or on a cloudy day, you should be wearing a pair of sunglasses when you go outside. The UV rays from the sun can cause conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts to occur, which are some of the common causes of blindness. In addition, wearing the proper sunscreen on your face is also highly important. The skin surrounding your eyes is the one of the thinnest on your body, and is the most susceptible to ultraviolet radiation.
Protect yourself against diabetes
November is Diabetic Eye disease Awareness Month and currently diabetic retinopathy is considered to be the leading cause of blindness in the United States. The best way to avoid this is to prevent diabetes, if possible. In this case, preventative care is the best approach; it is important to have regular eye exams in order to catch retinopathy early to avoid future health problems.
Stop smoking
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking can raise your risk of macular degeneration, which is an incurable condition. So it is vital that you ditch the tobacco for your eyes sake, as cyanide from the smoke goes into your bloodstream and can destroy the cells of your eyes. In addition, smoking can increase your problems with dry eyes, and can increase your risk of developing cataracts-so put out that cigarette!
Get your eyes checked regularly
Vision problems, or no vision problems, everyone should see their eye doctor at least once a year. Prevention is the best medicine, and getting regular eye exams is the only way to catch problems, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma, early enough to get timely and effective treatment.
