Taking care of your eyes and protecting your vision probably aren’t things you think about a lot.
If you don’t already wear glasses, you may assume that as you age, you’ll probably need them at some point.
But that’s as far as your thinking goes.
You may not be aware that there’s anything you can do to keep your eyes healthy.
The truth is, taking your eyes for granted could result in eyesight that deteriorates more quickly than it should.
Let’s take a look at the ways you can protect your vision for as long as possible.
Most people never consider how what’s on their plate affects their vision.
But it does.
When you consume nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, vitamin C and vitamin E, you may be able to ward age-related vision issues like cataracts and macular degeneration.
Add these foods to your diet:
A balanced diet will also help you maintain a healthy weight.
Obesity is related to diseases like type 2 diabetes – the leading cause of blindness in adults.
Smoking can damage your optic nerve, increases the chances of macular degeneration and cataracts.
Ask your doctor for help if you’ve tried to quit smoking unsuccessfully. The more times you try, the more likely you are to finally kick the habit.
The sun’s ultraviolet rays can also raise the likelihood that you’ll deal with cataracts and macular degeneration.
You need a pair that blocks at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays.
The type of lenses that wrap around offer protection from the side.
Even if you wear contact lenses that offer protection, you should still wear sunglasses, too.
Don’t worry – it doesn’t have to be the kind that you wore in high school chemistry class.
But, if you work with hazardous materials, you should definitely wear eye protection.
If you play a sport like ice golf, racquetball or tennis, your eyes are vulnerable to injury, too.
Sports goggles will give you adequate protection.
There are quite a few adverse effects of staring at a screen all day, including:
If you can’t avoid a large amount of screentime, there are some steps you can take to ease the burden on your eyes.
Here’s what you should do:
Even young children need to have their eyes checked periodically.
Plus, eye exams can pinpoint issues like glaucoma early on before there are any symptoms.
Your exam will probably include:
Without the help of a good vision insurance policy, you’ll have to pay for eye exams, treatments and glasses or contacts out-of-pocket. And you’ll be less likely to get check-ups that can prevent problems down the line.
To find a policy that suits your needs, get the help of an expert independent insurance producer.
Have you had your eyes checked lately?