May is Healthy Vision Month. At Evergreen Eye Center, the staff and physicians would like you to keep your eyes healthy. Here is our list of tips for healthy eyes…
1 – Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
You might think you are seeing just fine or that your eyes are completely healthy. But, a comprehensive eye exam checks for a variety of eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration. These often have few to no warning signs and a dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages.
2 – Know your family’s eye health history.
Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It is important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease since some are hereditary.
3 – Eat right to help protect your sight.
Grandma might have told you that carrots are good for your eyes. However, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens, is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too. Research has also shown there are benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. So get yourself some wild-caught PNW salmon!
4 – Maintain a healthy weight.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other conditions, which can lead to vision loss. If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor and explore options to get you back on track.
5 – Protect your eyes with the appropriate eyewear.
Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing home improvement activities around the home. Most protective eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than other plastics.
Be cool and wear your sunglasses year round. Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99-100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
And, when you’re on the jobsite, practice workplace eye safety. When protective eyewear is required as a part of your job, make a habit of wearing the appropriate type at all times and encourage your coworkers to do the same.
6 – Quit smoking or never start.
Smoking is just as bad. Period.
7 – Give your eyes a rest.
If you stare at a screen a lot, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.
8 – Clean your hands.
To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses or touching your eyes. Actually, just try to avoid touching your eyes whenever possible.
When in doubt about your eye health or how to keep up your own healthy eyes, contact one of our excellent doctors for an appointment! Call 1-800-340-3595.
Source: National Eye Institute
