Have a Balanced Diet
Your diet can greatly influence the health of your eyes and help prevent eye diseases. For instance, nutrients like lutein, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins C and E can protect against cataracts and macular degeneration. You can find them in:
- Oily fish such as salmon and tuna
- Kale, spinach, collards, and other green leafy vegetables
- Beans, nuts, eggs, and similar sources of protein
- Oysters and pork
- Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons
It’s essential to remember that a balanced diet can help you maintain a healthy weight. That reduces the risk of obesity-related diseases like type 2 diabetes, which is known to cause blindness.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking increases the chance of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other medical problems. Ideally, you should stop smoking entirely. However, we also understand that kicking the habit can be hard. If you’ve tried it before without any success, you should persist. And remember that you can always ask your doctor for help.
Wear Sunglasses
Everybody knows that sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays. However, not all types of eyewear are equally effective. As a rule of thumb, you should choose those that block between 99% and 100% of UVB and UVA rays. Keep in mind that while polarized lenses can reduce glare, they don’t offer the same protection as sunglasses do.
Don’t Forget About Safety Eyewear
When working in a hazardous environment, protective goggles or safety glasses are a must. The same applies to sports that can cause eye injuries, like lacrosse and ice hockey. So always make sure to wear the appropriate type of protective eyewear to shield your eyes.
Reduce Your Exposure to Computer Screens
Spending too much time in front of a computer or phone screen is known to cause:
- Blurry vision
- Eyestrain
- Dry eyes
- Headaches
- Neck, back, and shoulder inflammation
However, if you can’t reduce your exposure to computer screens, there are other things you can do to protect your eyes. For instance, you could get a pair of computer glasses that are specially designed to reduce the impact screens have on your eyes. Additionally, you should get a comfortable chair and position your screen so that your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. And, if your eyes get dry, try to blink more or use artificial tears.
Regular Eye Exams
Eye exams are an essential part of maintaining good eye health. They are vital for detecting eye problems at their earliest stage when they are treatable with the use of LASIK or other eye corrective surgeries. Furthermore, eye exams can help find certain health issues that aren’t eye-related, like lupus or diabetes. Therefore, make sure to have your eyes examined regularly in order to identify diseases and prevent vision loss.
If you have any questions or want to schedule your next eye exam, then give Dr. Schnipper a call at 904-574-5848.