As people age, they may experience different eye-related issues. Check out the following guide on how to keep your eyes healthy for as long as possible.
How to Keep Eyes Healthy and Beautiful
The following six tips will teach you how to take care of eyes daily and what you can do in the short and long-term to stay healthy such as what qualifies as good food for eyesight improvement.
1. Avoid Smoking
If you currently smoke, find a way to quit. If you haven’t started, don’t. Smoking causes several eye issues, such as:
- Cataracts
- Optic nerve damage
- Macular degeneration
2. Wear Goggles as Needed
Whether at home or work, wear safety glasses or goggles if you use anything that may damage your eyes, such as aerosols, harsh chemicals, or sparks.
Protect your eyes when playing sports that may lead to eye injuries such as hockey, racquetball, and lacrosse.
3. Make Doctor Visits A Habit
Get regular eye exam checkups. They can help detect any eye conditions you may experience, such as glaucoma. The earlier you catch them, the easier it will be to treat.
There are two types of eye doctors: Ophthalmologists and Optometrists. The main difference between the two is that Ophthalmologists can perform eye surgery and Optometrists can’t.
Comprehensive eye exams usually go over things such as:
- Visions tests to determine eye conditions such as nearsightedness
- Optic nerve and eye pressure tests for glaucoma
- Reviewing personal and family medical history
- Exams that test how well your eyes work together
4. Eat Healthily
Eating certain foods may help protect you from age-related vision problems like cataracts and macular degeneration.
A healthy diet will also lower the odds of getting diabetes, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults. Fill your plate with foods such as:
- Oily fish like salmon and tuna
- Citrus fruits and like oranges and grapefruit
- Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens
- Nonmeat protein sources such as eggs, nuts, and beans
- Pork and oysters
5. Protect Your Eyes with Sunglasses
Prolonged exposure to UV rays from the sun can cause macular degeneration and cataracts. Wear sunglasses that block 99%-100% of UVA and UVB rays.
If you want to reduce glare while driving, get polarized lenses and maybe wraparound lenses to protect your eyes from the sides.
6. Avoid Prolonged Computer Screen Exposure
If you look at a phone or computer screen you can experience eyestrain, dry eyes, and headaches among other issues.
Use the following guidelines if you plan to look at a screen for extended periods:
- If you wear glasses, ensure they’re made for looking at a computer screen
- Use computer-specific glasses
- Avoid glare from other light sources or get an anti-glare screen
- Blink often if you experience dry eyes
- Look away from the computer for about 20 seconds every 20 minutes and take 15-minute breaks at least every 2 hours