Millions of people all over the world are experiencing a disturbing decline in their vision. Some of the underlying eye issues might not be preventable or reversible. But many of them are.
As always, prevention is better than cure. To prevent eyesight problems in the future, we need to start maintaining our vision right now. Here are some ways to do it right:
- Wear Those Shades
No, wearing sunglasses wherever you go outside is not a pretentious thing to do. Nor is it something that only celebrities practice.
Wearing a quality pair of sunglasses is a necessity for some and quite a healthy habit for everyone. As long as the shades can block UV rays, they can delay cataract development, prevent damage to the retina, and even protect the delicate skin of our eyelids.
When you’re buying a new pair of sunglasses, make sure they can block 100 percent of all UV-A and UV-B rays. When you’re playing a sport, driving, or are at the beach, those sunglasses can do a lot to protect your eyes.
- Quit Smoking Now
Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/non-smoking-cigarette-box-cigarettes-2383236/
Every day, there are a few more excellent reasons why we should quit smoking for good. Smoking tobacco is linked to several negative effects on our health. Among these is macular degeneration, which means a weakening in our vision.
Even ex-smokers have a higher chance of developing AMD (age-related macular degeneration). So if you’re thinking of taking up smoking for whatever reason, just don’t.
- Eat Right
If we don’t have enough vitamins in our dietary intake, our retinal function may suffer. We used to believe that eating carrots will improve our eyesight. That’s partly true due to the vitamins and nutrients this food offers.
To eat right, though, you should add a range of other veggies in your diet too. More lutein, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and other compensation will place you in a much lower risk category for developing AMD (both early and advanced).
- Get An Eye Exam
Even if you think there’s nothing wrong with your eyes yet, a baseline eye screening is necessary at the age of 40. This is the point where early warning signs of eye diseases start coming to light. You may also want to get a refraction eye exam if your doctor recommends it.
The results of your eye exam will determine whether you need a follow-up. If you do have any of the problematic symptoms, the next step should be to consult an ophthalmologist.
- Protect The Eyes
Wearing sunglasses isn’t the only way to protect your eyes. If you play a sport, it’s important to avoid eye injuries as well. Baseball and hockey are the sports that place you at quite a high risk for eye damage. Therefore, make sure you have decent eye protection while playing or practicing.
Different sports might have different requirements for eye protection. Make sure you look these up and invest wisely for the sake of your vision. The right equipment might cost a fair bit. But it will save you a lot of hassle and money in the long run.
Eye protection is also necessary when you’re involved in any home projects. Whether you’re gardening, cleaning, or performing simple home repairs, you need some ANSI-approved eyewear to preserve your eyes.
The Takeaway
The methods above are fairly simple but don’t take them lightly! The more you do maintain your eye health now, the lesser risk of vision loss you’ll have in the future. Start working on these maintenance tips now and you’ll be thanking your past self soon enough!