Seeing Straight: 7 Ways To Maintain Your Best Eye Health
Seeing Straight: 7 Ways To Maintain Your Best Eye Health
Being able to see is something too many people take for granted. However, many people suffer from failing eye sight later in life. If you want to preserve your ability to see clearly, you should take precautions. Below are seven ways to maintain good long-term eye health.
1. Eat the Right Foods
Certain foods are healthier for your eyes than others. Start checking the nutrition facts on labels. To maintain good eye health, you should be eating foods rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, zinc, Lutein, and Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
2. Wear Sunglasses
Direct sunlight contains ultraviolet rays. If your eyes are exposed to lots of UV rays, it could eventually lead to serious vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Get a pair of sunglasses to wear on sunny days. They can block out over 99 percent of UV Rays.
3. Exercise
Two of the biggest sources of poor eye health are heart disease and diabetes. To stave off these illnesses, you need to eat right and get your fair share of exercise. Aim for 30 minutes of cardio a day.
4. Quit Smoking
Smoking can be devastating to your long term health. Not only will tobacco smoke destroy your lungs, it can also badly damage your eyes. The chemicals within cigarette smoke contain free radicals that can badly damage body tissues including tissues in the eyes.
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5. Wear Protective Goggles When Needed
Airborne particles and chemicals are a common cause of permanent eye injuries. Make sure you wear safety goggles to protect your eyes when needed. For example, when doing home improvement projects that require using an electric saw. It should also include anytime you handle any corrosive chemicals.
6. Notice the Warning Signs of Worsening Eyesight
Like any sudden changes in your health, sudden changes in eye sight could be warning signs of bigger problems to come. Pay close attention. If you notice your eye sight has suddenly worsened for no apparent reason, it could be indicative of a serious problem.
7. Get Regular Check-Ups with an Optometrist
Visit an optometrist once a year for a check-up at the minimum. That way, you can track the health of your eyes and detect serious problems before it’s too late. Some optometrists, like those at All About Eyes, offer extended hours to better accommodate busy schedules. Typically, a check-up includes numerous tests to detect things like melanoma, macular degeneration, and more.
Insuring your eyes stay healthy and your vision is protected into old age requires some preemptive action and due diligence. Follow all the steps above and use common sense in regards to activities that could potentially harm your eye sight.