3 Steps to Keep Your Eyes Healthy | Healthy Vision Month

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You might not think about your vision unless you develop a problem, but healthy eyes and good vision are vital to your overall quality of life. May is Healthy Vision Month, and it’s a great time to think about ways we can maintain our eye health.
 
Keeping your eyes healthy starts with the following three steps:

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1. Get & Stay Healthy

​Getting and staying healthy is important to maintaining good vision and preventing eye problems. Several diseases and health conditions greatly increase your chances of developing vision and eye issues.
 
Diseases and conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease can affect your overall health and that includes your eyes. For example, according to the National Eye Institute, if you have diabetes, you are up to five times more likely to develop cataracts than people who do not have diabetes. Cataracts cloud the lenses in your eyes and affect vision.
 
High blood pressure can also put you at an increased risk of eye problems. It is one of the main risk factors for having a stroke. A stroke can damage the part of the brain that processes vision and leads to vision loss.
 
You can decrease your risk of health problems that may affect the eyes. First, know your risk factors. If you have a family history of certain diseases, you might have a higher chance of developing the conditions. Talk to your doctor about a plan to decrease your risk.
 
Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight is a risk factor for a variety of diseases. If you are overweight, work with your healthcare provider to develop a safe and effective weight loss plan. Exercise is also key to getting healthy. If you are sedentary, start slow with walking or doing light aerobics. For those who are already exercise enthusiasts, keep it up. The health benefits are abundant.
 
If you have a health condition such as heart disease or diabetes, follow your treatment plan. Treating health problems as early as possible helps decrease your risk of complications, including vision problems.
 

2. Protect Your Eyes

You only have one set of eyes. Take steps to protect them. Protecting your eyes includes wearing the appropriate protective eyewear for the activity you are doing. For example, if you are doing woodwork, make sure you wear goggles to prevent debris from getting into your eyes.
 
It’s also important to protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays. We know UV rays can increase our risk of skin cancer, but it also can affect the eyes. Exposure to UV rays increases your risk of several eye diseases, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
 
Many of us might think we are not exposed to UV rays if it’s overcast. But the sun’s rays still penetrate the clouds and can lead to damage. Wear sunglasses that provide 100 percent UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound styles are especially good since they also block UV rays from the sides.
 
Don’t think using a tanning bed is any safer. As reported by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the UV rays emitted from tanning beds is 100 times more than that from the sun.
 
You can also protect your eyes by reducing your risk of eye infections. Hand-washing is one of the top ways to prevent infection. Wash your hands before handling contact lenses and applying eye makeup. Also, don’t share mascara or other types of eye makeup. 

3. Get Your Eyes Checked Regularly

Comprehensive eye exams are a vital step to keep your eyes healthy. Some eye diseases such as glaucoma do not cause any symptoms at first. By the time symptoms develop, the disease has progressed. The only way to diagnose certain eye conditions early is through a comprehensive eye exam.
 
According to the AAO, adults over the age of 40 should have a comprehensive eye exam, as that is around the age when vision changes may occur. Some people might need a complete eye exam sooner. If you have certain risk factors for eye diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, it’s a good idea not to wait until you’re 40. Once you have an eye exam, follow your eye doctor’s recommendation for the frequency of exams.
 
Protecting your eyes and staying healthy helps preserve vision. If you have any questions about how to maintain your eye health or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.