Eye Health for Adults
Eye health is important for everyone and you should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam performed every year to ensure good vision. Below are a few guidelines to ensure you keep your eyes healthy.
Nutrition – Eating healthy is important and eating the right foods is good not only for your overall health but also for your eyesight. Some recent research has shown that antioxidants and other nutrients may reduce the risk of macular degeneration as well as cataracts. We also know that proper food high in vitamin C can play an important role in preventing alleviating glaucoma. Vitamin A is known to help protect against blindness and Omega-3 fatty acids have shown to help our eyes in several different ways such as alleviating the symptoms of dry eyes and helping protect our eyes from macular damage.
One of the best things you can do for your eyes is to eat a balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, and green leaf plants and stay away from foods high in saturated fats and sugar.
Rest – Sleeping is important for our eyes’ health. Having your eyes closed during sleep allows your eyes to rejuvenate and receive continuous lubrication. During regular nightly periods of sleep, our eyes clear out different eye irritants such as allergens, dust, and other particles that may have accumulated while we are awake.
Sunglasses – Most people know that the sun is not good for our skin, but did you know that it is just as bad for your eyes? Sunglasses are an awesome fashion accessory and most importantly the appropriate ones protect your eyes from the harmful effects of the sun. Overexposure to the UV rays can have damaging effects on the eyes and can cause cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium. So, purchase some cool sunglasses and make sure they are sunglasses that block out UV rays.
Bad Habits –Avoid smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. Smoking is linked to increased chances of cataracts and is bad for your cardiovascular system which, if damaged, can directly affect your eyes health. It is a proven fact that smoking has many bad influences on your health and if you smoke, you should consider quitting not only for your vision but for your overall health.
STDs – Many adults suffer from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and it is important to know that many STDs can affect your eyes. The top leading STDs that can cause problems for your eyes are: Herpes type 1 or 2, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and HIV/AIDS. If you have been diagnosed with any of these STDs, you should have your eyes examined regularly by an ophthalmologist.
Sports Safety – Sports activities have become very common in our lives and it is important that you wear protective eye gear while playing sports and other sporting activities. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses or goggles for swimmers and eye guards designed to provide protection for activities such as football, ice hockey, field hockey, and lacrosse to name just a few. Remember, its safety first!
Staying healthy is key to living a long life. Keep your eyes healthy by following the few tips we have provided above. Remember we only get one set of eyes, so don’t chance it… keep them healthy and remember to schedule a comprehensive dilated eye exam every year.
