Tips to Maintain Good Eye Health
Vision is one of our most valued senses but not many people take care of it adequately. The reason for this mainly is the ignorance about maintenance of eye health. The health of our eyes largely depends on our dietary and lifestyle habits. It pays to know the best practices you can adopt as these result in healthy eyes as you grow older. Here are some recommendations:
Quit smoking
Smoking is a major risk factor for cataracts in Michigan, macular degeneration and damage to optic nerve. Quitting smoking is not easy for many. If you have tried it before and been unsuccessful, keep trying. Studies have revealed that you are more likely to quit smoking if you constantly try. In addition, your primary medical doctor may be able to help you enroll in a program that can be very helpful.
Eat the right food
Nutrients like lutein, vitamin C and E, zinc and omga-3 fatty acids are good for your eyes. They help in keeping away age-related eye ailments like cataracts and macular degeneration to a large extent. Spinach, collards, kale, tuna, salmon, nuts, eggs, beans, and citrus fruits like oranges are rich in the above-mentioned nutrients.
Protect your eyes from the sun
Ultraviolet rays are bad for eyes and can lead to macular degeneration and cataracts. Always choose sunglasses that offer 99-100% UV and UVB protection. Your contact lenses can provide you some UV protection but it is wise to double them up with sunglasses.
Avoid staring at the computer for prolonged periods
Computers are a part of our lives and cannot be eliminated completely. But you must take a break from constantly staring at them. Ensure that you rest your eyes for about 20 seconds every half an hour by looking away from the computer. Take at least a 15-minute break every 2 hours. Make use of anti-glare screens or spectacles. Constantly looking at the computer can cause dry eyes, blurring of vision, eye strain, difficulty focusing on objects at a distance, and headaches. This is known as computer vision syndrome, or CVS.
Use eye protection
High-impact sports such as ice hockey, lacrosse, etc., can lead to injury to the eyes. Always wear eye protection when playing such sports. Also, if you work in an environment with airborne materials, cover your eyes with appropriate safety eyeglasses. Welding can cause some pretty severe pain if done without the proper protection.
Schedule regular eye doctor appointments
Everyone in your family, including your children, must have their eyes examined at regular intervals. This is especially important as you grow older and are exposed to higher risk of contracting eye diseases like cataract. If your cataract surgeon in Detroit is able to detect cataract formation at an early stage, he would be able to slow the progression and suggest you an appropriate course of action.
