Chioma Umeha
Your eyes play a significant role in your health.
Many steps can be taken to ensure that your eyes are protected and remain as
healthy as possible. We have selected the best vision-boosting tips to help you
protect your eyes into your golden years.
Millions of individuals experience eye problems
each year. Some eye issues result in permanent vision loss or blindness, while
others can be corrected with contact lenses or glasses.
The National Eye Institute estimate that in the
years between 2010 and 2050, the number of individuals affected by the commest
eye diseases – including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts,
diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma – “will double.”
Many of us are resigned to the fact that as we
age, our eyesight will deteriorate. But could we improve our vision, protect
our sight, and prevent many of the diseases that compromise the health of our
eyes?
Studies have revealed ways to protect your eyes
from damage and disease and maintain healthy sight.
Many of us are resigned to the fact that as we
age, our eyesight will deteriorate. But could we improve our vision, protect
our sight, and prevent many of the diseases that compromise the health of our
eyes?
Studies have revealed ways to protect your eyes
from damage and disease and maintain healthy sight.
Go for regular eye exams
The best thing you can do to look after your sight
is to go for regular eye tests.
A l though y o u r vision m a y appear to be
healthy, there is no way to be 100 per cent certain unless a trained
professional observes your eyes.
Not only does an eye test determine whether or not
you need glasses, but it can also spot eye conditions that can be treated
effectively if detected early enough.
A type of eye exam known as a comprehensive
dilated eye exam is r e c o m mended from the age of 60 upwards, or earlier if
you are at an increased risk of certain eye diseases.
During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, an eye
care specialist adds drops into each eye to widen, or dilate, the pupil. Once
dilated, more light enters the eye, which enables the eye care professional to
view the macula, retina, and optic nerve and identify any signs of damage and
disease.
Eat
vision-healthy foods
It is possible to eat your way to healthy vision.
You often hear that eating carrots benefits the eyes, but there are plenty of
other foods that are important for good eyesight, too.
Consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has
been shown to promote eye health. Dark leafy greens, in particular – including
collard greens, kale, and spinach – contain lutein and zeaxant h i n , which
are ant i o x i d a n t s t h a t help to prevent the formation of cataracts.
Evidence demonstrates that grapes may also support
healthy eyes. In a laboratory model of retinal degeneration, scientists showed
that a diet enriched with grapes protected the retina against the damaging
effects of oxidative stress.
Other research indicated that grapes provide
higher levels of antioxidant protection for eyes than lutein alone and may slow
or help to prevent AMD.
S t u d i e s have found that there are eye health
benefits from consuming fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon,
halibut, mackerel, sardines, and tuna.
Omega-3 fatty acids may improve ocular surface
inflammation and symptoms of ocular irritation that are associated with
moderate to severe dry eye. They may also help vision cells to survive future
disease or injury.
Keep your weight under control
Being overweight or obese puts you at a higher
risk of developing conditions such as diabetes or other systemic disorders,
which may eventually lead to vision loss.
It is never too late to get your weight under
control by eating a healthful diet and exercising regularly to prevent vision
complications.
Research conducted by the University of Melbourne
in Australia and Leeds Beckett University in the United Kingdom discovered that
considerable weight loss could potentially reverse eye damage caused by
diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
Another study recently presented at the 121st
Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, held in New Orleans,
LA, reported that individuals who are physically active have a 73 per cent
lower risk of developing glaucoma than more sedentary individuals. This finding
highlights the importance of leading an active lifestyle.
Rest your eyes regularly
If you work all day at a computer screen, you may
forget to blink often and end up with fatigued eyes by the end of the day. The
National Eye Institute suggest implementing a 20-20-20 rule.
For every 20 minutes that you spend staring at a
screen, look at something else that is around 20 feet in front of you for 20
seconds to reduce eye strain.
Research indicates that half of the world will be
short-sighted by 2050 if we continue with the current trend of spending so much
time on near-based electronic devices.
The study, which was published in the journal
Ophthalmology, suggests that spending more time outdoors and less time doing
activities that require constant up-close focusing could be a strategy that may
help to reduce the number of people who experience vision loss.
If you need to wear protective eyewear or glasses
as part of your job, get into the habit of wearing the appropriate gear at all
times to keep your eyes in tip-top shape and prevent damage or eye strain.
