Around the world, more than 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment. While that may seem like a high number, in many cases vision impairments can be prevented or addressed.
There are several things you can do in your everyday life to support your eye health and make sure you’re seeing your best. Keep reading to learn about three eye health tips.
1. Have a Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exam
One of the biggest tips for better eye health is to routinely have a comprehensive eye exam. Even if you think your vision is fine and your eyes are healthy, regularly seeing your doctor is important. Your doctor will be able to pick up things that you might have missed on your own.
Oftentimes, people don’t realize that they’d benefit from glasses or contact lenses. Further, many common eye diseases like glaucoma don’t have any warning symptoms. The only way to diagnose diseases like glaucoma early is through a dilated eye exam.
Cataracts are another common eye condition that can be detected through eye dilation. Cataracts form with age and usually result in vision becoming cloudy. Cataract surgery in cases where the condition has advanced aims to treat cloudiness, short- or long-sightedness, and astigmatism.
2. Eat Right and Manage Blood Sugar Levels
You’ve probably heard that carrots are good for your vision and eye health. But you should also include other vegetables, especially dark leafy greens, in your diet. There are also eye health benefits from eating fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Managing blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol through your diet is important for both your eyes and overall health. 90% of blindness caused by diabetes is preventable. Ask your doctor to help you determine the optimal levels you should be at for each indicator and how to reach those goals.
3. Wear Protective Eyewear and Sunglasses
Eye injuries can occur during various everyday activities. This includes sports, working in jobs like factory work or construction, and doing home renovation projects. There are different types of eyewear that are specifically designed to provide the right protection.
Protective eyewear ranges from safety goggles to safety shields and eye guards. Depending on your needs, ask your eye care provider about protective eyewear or look for it in sporting goods stores.
Similar to skin, sun exposure can damage your eyes. It can also increase the risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
Sunglasses are the best way to protect your eyes from UV-A and UV-B radiation. Look for sunglasses that block out at least 99% of UV rays.
Follow These Eye Health Tips
Now that you know these three eye health tips, are you ready to start taking better care of your eyes? By following these tips for eye health, you’ll be sure to maintain healthy eyes for years to come.
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