Four Tips for Maintaining Healthy Vision as You Age
As the hands of time stop for no one, there is no time like the present to take control of your health and be proactive in maintaining good vision. September is Healthy Aging Month, and the goal is to create awareness of things everyone can do to see well from childhood to senior citizenship.
The aging process brings about many changes, including the body’s decreased or slowed ability to heal and recover from ill
ness or injury. Unfortunately, age-related vision changes and even diseases often occur stealthily and with no warning. But there are steps you can take to maintain your vision as you age.
1. Regular eye exams can help with early diagnosis and treatment. The early detection that can come with yearly exams will greatly reduce your chance of any eye disease progressing beyond the point of effective treatment.
At these exams, your ophthalmologist will check for age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
2. Eating a healthy balanced diet may be the most important thing you can do for your eyesight everyday. Foods such as spinach, kale, collard greens, and other dark, leafy greens, are particularly beneficial for healthy vision. Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like fish, are also a part of an eye-healthy diet.
3. Avoid smoking. Smoking is bad for your entire body, including your eyes. It puts you at increased risk for age-related diseases like cataracts, macular degeneration, and diseases of the optic nerve.
4. Maintain a healthy weight. Because being overweight increases the risk for diabetes, it is important for your eye health to keep a healthy weight. Diabetic complications, like glaucoma, may eventually turn into decreased vision or other eye conditions.
So make these healthy steps a part of your eye care routine as you age and maintain healthy vision for a lifetime.