People often take their sense of sight for granted. Every day you work out to improve your physique, read books to sharpen your mind, and even meditate to strengthen the soul. But eyesight is typically at the bottom of your priority list, and that's if it even makes the list. But as you age, your risk for developing vision problems, including glaucoma, dry eyes, and cataracts, increases. Avoid these health issues by taking better care of your eyesight with these four tips:
Eat the Right Food
A healthy and balanced diet, consisting of fruits and vegetables, can help boost eye health, according to multiple leading organizations, including the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Citrus fruits have been found to be most helpful when it comes to foods for eye health. Lemons, oranges, and grapefruits, specifically, are dense in vitamin C, which is said to curb age-related eye damage. Aside from fruits, load up on fatty fish, such as tuna and salmon, seeds, and eggs. A green, leafy vegetable diet will also provide nutrients to aid in retina health.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise can help curb health conditions that also predispose you to eye damage, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. Go for a run, lift weights, practice yoga, or just take a walk. You do not have to commit a big chunk of your time or work out at an intense professional athlete-level in order to gain the health benefits either. Allocate 30 minutes of your day to any form of physical exercise that you enjoy doing, whether it's hiking up a mountain or swimming in your community's pool.
Wear Protective Eyewear
Sunglasses aren't just a fashion statement; they also help protect your eyes from sun damage. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause eye damage over time and can increase your risk of developing age-related vision problems, such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Invest in a quality pair of sunglasses that are designed to block both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Don't Overwork Your Eyes
If you spend a huge amount of time looking at a computer screen or staring at paperwork, you can sometimes forget to blink your eyes. To reduce eye damage caused by overworking your eyes, give yourself periodic breaks. In fact, use the 20-20-20 rule to make it easier for you to adopt this habit. Redirect your eyes 20 feet away from what you are currently staring at for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
These are only some of the things you can do to improve your eyesight and protect it from age-related wear and tear. As an additional measure, make sure to get your eyes examined on a regular basis. A yearly comprehensive dilated eye exam from Scope Optometry can be crucial at detecting early warning signs of eye disease, which gives you a better chance of treating it before it turns into a problem. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
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