Protect Your Eyes as You Age

As you get older, you may notice some changes in your eyesight. It is important to protect your vision to maintain your quality of life as you age. Specific eye diseases are more common as we age, like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. There is a lot you can do to protect your eyes and keep them as healthy as possible. Here are some tips to keep your eyes healthy and reduce your chance of developing age-related vision problems.

Eat healthy

Follow a healthy diet and choose foods rich in antioxidants and nutrients to maintain healthy vision like leafy  green vegetables, fruits, fish, and nuts. Eating right can keep your blood pressure at normal level and help you avoid diabetes.

Schedule an annual eye exam

Visit your eye doctor at least once a year, this will help early detection of vision problems and early treatment rather than later. Make sure to talk to your eye doctor about all concerns you have about your eyes and vision,  family history of eye problems, and any health concerns you may have. Be alert to any early signs of vision problems and contact your eye doctor immediately if you experience any of them.

Stay active

An active lifestyle is good for the entire body, exercise protect your cardiovascular system and regulate blood circulation and oxygen intake to your body, which are important for eye health.

Do not smoke

Smoking is bad for your eyes and your overall health. It increases your risk of developing  multiple health conditions that affect eye health. Smoking can cause dry eye, and increase your risk for developing macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Being overweight affects your heart, blood pressure, increases your risk of diabetes, and it can affect your vision.

Wear sunglasses

Shield your eyes from sunlight, wear sunglasses that block harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays are capable of damaging  your eyes and may contribute to conditions like macular degeneration.