10 Tips to Maintain Good Vision for Save Your Vision Month

Vision is something many of us take for granted, but without good vision, your daily activities, work, and independence can be limited. Certain diseases and injuries can affect our eyesight. Some risk factors for vision problems are out of our control, but there are many things we can control. 

March marks Save Your Vision Month. We can all do things that are easy and practical to ensure our eyes remain as healthy as possible. Below are tips for maintaining good vision.

Have regular eye exams: One of the best ways to protect your vision is by getting regular eye exams. Many eye diseases do not cause symptoms in the early stages, but an eye exam can help with diagnosis before symptoms become noticeable.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, adults with average risk of eye disease should have a baseline eye exam by age 40. If you have diabetes or other risk factors for vision problems, you may need an exam sooner.

Know your family’s eye health history: Find out your family history of eye diseases. Some eye diseases run in families. Knowing your family history may suggest precautions you should take or when you should have eye exams.

Get moving: According to the National Eye Institute, exercise may help decrease the risk of some eye diseases. For instance, in an animal study, exercise was found to lower the overgrowth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye. This may reduce the risk of macular degeneration.

Wear sunglasses: Too much exposure to UV rays from the sun may increase your risk of eye diseases, such as cataracts. Plus, it puts you at increased risk of developing skin cancer around your eyes.

Ditch the cigarettes: Smoking cigarettes may damage the blood vessels in the eyes. Also, smoking may increase your chances of high blood pressure, which can also affect your eyes.

Incorporate eye-healthy foods into your diet: Staying at a healthy weight helps decrease your risk of type 1 diabetes. By lowering your risk of diabetes, you also reduce your chances of developing eye complications, such as diabetic retinopathy. Include foods, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and those high in omega-3s, to promote a healthy weight and get the nutrients your eyes need.
 
Don’t forget eye protection: A large number of eye injuries are preventable by wearing the appropriate protective eyewear. Don’t skimp on safety when it comes to your vision.

Manage health conditions early: Some medical conditions, such as diabetes and certain autoimmune diseases, can affect your eyes. Having an eye exam as soon as possible after becoming diagnosed with a medical condition is helpful. Learn ways to reduce your risk of eye complications. Managing your medical condition from the start reduces the risk of eye problems. 

Try to avoid rubbing your eyes: It may be a hard habit to break, but rubbing your eyes can damage the delicate skin around your eyes. Plus, your hands are exposed to dust, dirt, and bacteria, which can be transferred into your eyes as you rub them. Try to avoid rubbing your eyes as much as possible. If you need to touch your eyes to put in or remove contact lenses, be sure to wash your hands.

Don’t ignore symptoms: If you develop any new eyes symptoms, it is important to see an eye doctor as soon as possible. Also, if you sustain an eye injury or have signs of an eye infection, you should have your eyes checked out. Signs and symptoms to see an eye doctor include:

• Blurry vision
• Eye pain
• A loss of side vision
• Seeing new floaters or flashes of light
• You feel like something is in your eye
• Dry eyes

By implementing the tips above, you may decrease your risk of eye problems and promote better eye health. If you have any concerns or questions, please let us know.

If you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600. 
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