Healthy Vision Steps for the New Year

The New Year is right around the corner. It is the perfect time to develop healthy habits that have a positive impact on your eye health. Most healthy eye habits also improve overall well-being. So, it is a win-win situation.

Consider implementing some of these healthy vision steps this coming year!
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Diet and exercise 

If you are wondering what diet has to do with the eyes, the answer is plenty. The foods you eat can have a negative or positive impact on your eye health. Consider the following tips:

Limit trans-fat foods: Eating foods high in trans-fat or sugar can increase your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, which can put you at a higher risk of eye diseases.

Eat your greens: Making healthy food choices might not just benefit your waistline. It can also help improve eye health. For example, dark leafy green veggies, such as spinach and kale, contain nutrients, including lutein and zeaxanthin, that may help protect the eyes from UV rays.

Add omega-3: Foods that are high in omega 3-fatty acids may also provide some anti-inflammatory effect and help keep the retina healthy. Foods that are rich in omega-3 include soybeans, walnuts, and salmon.

Exercise: Exercising regularly is great for your well-being. It may also help ward off eye diseases. According to the AAO, regular exercise may reduce your risk of macular degeneration. Exercise may promote healthy blood vessels in the eyes. 

According to the American Heart Association, most adults should try to get about 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly. Pick an activity you like and will stick with, such as walking, aerobic dance classes, and circuit training. 
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Protective habits 

There are also several things you can do to protect your eyes and preserve your vision, such as:

Use appropriate eyewear when playing sports: Injuries to the eyes from playing sports can range from a minor poke in the eye to those that threaten vision. Always wear the appropriate eyewear for the sport you are playing. 

Wear sunglasses: Damage from UV rays can increase your risk of certain eye diseases. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses anytime you are outside during the day.

Take breaks from digital devices: Eye strain can make your vision blurry, cause headaches, and leave you with tired eyes. Take a break from cellphones, computers, and iPads. Practice the 20-20-20 rule. Look 20 feet away from your device for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Better yet, take longer breaks when you can. 
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Disease prevention 

Take a few important steps to decrease your risk of eye diseases.

Consider the following:

Don’t smoke: Smoking can damage the blood vessels, and that includes the vessels to your eyes. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smokers double their risk of developing certain eye diseases, such as macular degeneration. Smoking may also increase your risk of cataracts.

Wear sunscreen: Too much sun exposure can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body, and that includes around the eyes and the eyelids. When you apply sunscreen, be sure to include the skin around your eyes.

Get regular eye exams: Certain eye diseases do not cause symptoms until the condition has progressed, but eye problems can often be diagnosed early through an eye exam. How often you should have an eye exam is determined by your age, health, and underlying medical conditions. Talk to your doctor about your eye exam frequency.

We hope the above tips get you started on the right track this coming year for healthy vision. 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.