5 Tips to Help Protect Your Vision Throughout Your Life
As we age, it’s normal to notice changes in your body, including your vision. For seniors, you may lose the ability to see clearly up close, have difficulties distinguishing between colors (such as black and blue), or need more time to adjust to changing levels of light. These problems are often easily corrected with glasses, contact lenses, and improved lighting to help you maintain a healthy and independent lifestyle.
Why Taking Care of Your Eyes is Important
However, aging can also put you at an elevated risk for some eye diseases and conditions that could be more serious.That is why keeping your eyes as healthy as possible is so important. Eye diseases and conditions that can lead to vision loss and blindness in older adults include:
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Dry Eye
Signs of an Eye Emergency
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), you should see an eye care professional right away if you:
- Suddenly cannot see or everything looks blurry
- See new floaters (tiny specks or “cobwebs” that seem to float across your vision) and/or flashes of light
- Have eye pain
- Experience double vision
- Have redness or swelling of your eye or eyelid
Now that you understand why it’s so important and what eye diseases and conditions you should be aware of, let’s take a look at some tips to help care for your eyes and preserve your vision as you age.
1 | Get Regular Eye Exams
Most people don’t notice any signs or symptoms in the early stages of eye diseases. However, getting regular eye exams can help track changes in your eyes. This means your eye doctor will be able to detect serious diseases and conditions earlier. The earlier you are diagnosed, the more effective your treatments will be and the less vision you will lose.
After age 60, the National Institute of Health recommends getting a dilated eye exam every year or two, and recommends those with diabetes or high blood pressure get a dilated eye exam yearly as these conditions further increase your risk for severe eye conditions.
During a dilated eye exam, your doctor will put drops in your eyes that dilate (widen) the pupils. This allows your doctor to see better inside each eye. Your vision may be blurry after the exam and your eyes may also be more sensitive to light. However, this only lasts a few hours, but you should make plans for someone else to drive you home.
2 | Wear Sunglasses
When you are outdoors, even on cloudy days and during the winter, you should always wear sunglasses that block UV (ultraviolet) radiation. Wearing only a hat is like leaving the door wide open; when your eyes are shaded by a wide brim hat, that causes your pupils to dilate more, letting in more UV light. Learn more about sunglasses and protecting your eyes.
3 | Stop Smoking
Smoking can increase your risk for certain eye diseases (such as AMD, cataracts, and glaucoma) that lead to vision loss or blindness. If you are a smoker, you should make a plan with your doctor to stop smoking. Treatments may include nicotine patches or gum to help you decrease your nicotine use until you no longer need nicotine.
4 | Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet can support your eyes and vision. Eating fruits and veggies, especially yellow and orange ones, plus egg yolks and omega-3 fatty fish can help support your eye health. Speak with your eye doctor about supplements to support your eye health, such as lutein, or vitamins A, C, and E, among other vitamins and minerals.
Here are some eye-healthy foods to incorporate into your diet:
- Citrus fruits like orange and grapefruit
- Strawberries
- Red, yellow, and green peppers
- Broccoli
- Almonds
- Sunflower seeds
- Avocados
- Olive Oil
- Legumes
- Egg yolks
- Lean meats
- Seafood rich in omega-3, such as salmon
5 | Manage Your Overall Health
Maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle can also improve your eye health and help you maintain good vision. Work with your doctor to come up with a plan to be physically active and to maintain a healthy weight. Maintain your blood pressure by eating well and taking any medications your doctor has prescribed to treat high blood pressure. If you have diabetes, work closely with your doctor to help manage the condition.
Key Takeaways
It’s often said you don’t know what you have ‘till it’s gone. That is why working now to support your eye health is crucial to maintaining your vision. By working with your general doctor and your eye doctor, getting regular eye exams and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can all help decrease your risk for serious eye diseases and vision loss as you age.
