With all the research available on eye health, it’s easier than ever to protect your vision for life. Simple lifestyle changes can help even those who are at risk for developing eye diseases or disorders.
Diet And Exercise
A good diet and regular exercise are important to maintain a healthy body. A well-balanced diet, and in particular, a diet high in antioxidants is critical for eye health. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been found to be helpful. Ensuring that essential vitamins and minerals are present in the body will help to prevent or postpone eye problems. Supplements that promote eye health such as Revision are available and many contain Vitamins A, C, and E, beta-carotene, zinc and copper as you can see from Revision reviews. New studies have shown that supplements containing lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin may be helpful in treating certain conditions.
Regular exercise has also been proven to benefit the eye, and in fact, inactivity is a risk factor for some eye diseases. Regular exercise builds endurance, slows aging processes, and is important for maintaining general health. Cardiovascular exercise is particularly beneficial.
Proper diet and regular exercise can help to prevent other conditions that can cause damage to the eyes, diabetes in particular. High cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and obesity are all risk factors for eye disease. Many times these conditions can be avoided or moderated by a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
Protect Your Eyes From The Sun
Wearing protective eyewear is another simple way to protect the eyes. Harmful UV-A and UV-B rays can, over a period of time, cause irreparable damage to the eye. Sunglasses that protect from all directions are necessary; wraparound or fit-over lenses are preferred. (Clip-on sunglasses are not sufficient.) The sunglasses should be polarized so as to prevent horizontal glare from harming the eye, and they must filter out 100% of UV rays.
Wearing a wide-brimmed hat is also useful in keeping the eyes protected from the sun.
Smoking Cessation
Smoking is detrimental to all body systems, and has been proven to cause various life-threatening ailments, including cancer and heart disease. Smoking is also a hazard to eye health. Smokers are more likely to develop eye problems, and more likely to suffer serious symptoms earlier than non-smokers. The smoke itself is dangerous to the eye, and the effects of tobacco – ie, constriction of blood vessels – are also harmful.
Regular Eye Examinations
It’s important to visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist at least once every two years. This will ensure that any problems will be discovered early on, and treatment can begin in a timely fashion. Some conditions are asymptomatic in the beginning stages, and early detection can prevent vision loss.
Of course, one should see a doctor immediately if experiencing eye pain, a sudden change in vision, inflammation, light flashes in the visual field, fluid leaking from the eye, double vision or a dimming of vision.
Minimizing Risk
Taking steps to safeguard eye health now can help to minimize the risk of developing eye problems later in life. Eat right, exercise, protect your eyes from sun damage, and have regular eye check-ups; these simple measures can prevent vision loss.