Your eyes are the key to seeing the world around you. You use them to view the smiles of your loved ones and all the wonders around you. Therefore, if you want to preserve your vision and prevent eye problems in the future, you need to take care of your eyes. Here are some tips to keep your eyes healthy.
1. Don't Smoke
If you smoke, you increase the risk of eye problems like cataracts, an eye issue that causes the lens of your eye to fog or become cloudy.
2. Wear Sunglasses
Another issue that increases your chances of an eye health issue is frequent sun exposure. The ultraviolet rays from the sun can contribute to the onset of cataracts and other issues. Therefore, you want to wear sunglasses any time you go out into the sun, especially for prolonged periods. When you choose sunglasses, you want ones that specifically block ultraviolet B rays, which are the rays that can damage your eyes.
3. Limit Alcohol Usage
When you drink frequently, you elevate your chances of problems with your eyes, such as cataracts.
4. Schedule Routine Eye Exams
You also want to schedule routine eye exams even if you don’t have a vision deficit. At these appointments, an eye doctor can evaluate the health of your eyes to detect a problem, such as glaucoma or cataracts, when it’s manageable in order to prevent complications. Many eye related health problems don’t show any symptoms, so having routine eye exams is a good way for your eye doctor to monitor your eye health.
5. Schedule A Visit If You Have Signs Of An Eye Problem
In addition, you want to take notice of any signs that you may have an eye problem, such as the following:
- Blind spots in your central vision
- Blind spots in your peripheral vision
- Blurred or clouded vision
- Visual disturbances
- Double vision in one eye
If you seek out the expertise of an eye doctor early, they can detect and address any problems as early as possible.
6. Eat Healthy
To obtain all the vitamins and minerals your eyes need to function, you want to eat a healthy, balanced diet. For example, your eyes need vitamin C because it helps the blood vessels in your eyes and may reduce your risk of cataracts. Some examples of foods rich in vitamin C are:
- Cauliflower
- Strawberries
- Bell peppers
- Papayas
Vitamin E is another example of an eye-healthy nutrient, and it may reduce your risk of cataracts. You can find this vitamin in nuts like hazelnuts.
7. Get Health Problems Under Control
You also want to get any health problems under control. Unregulated diabetes, for example, can increase your likelihood of developing cataracts, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.
8. Exercise Regularly
If you want to further take care of your eyes, you also need to exercise regularly. According to the Mayo Clinic, routine exercise may reduce pressure in your eye. When you reduce eye pressure, you decrease your risk of glaucoma since high eye pressure is often the cause of this condition, which can lead to blindness.
Visiting an eye doctor to get routine screenings and educating yourself about other ways you can keep your eyes healthy is important for your overall health.
Schedule an appointment with one of our Ophthalmologists today for a comprehensive eye exam or if you have a sign of an eye problem by contacting Davies Eye Center.