Regular Maintenance Will Keep Your Eyes Strong and Healthy
Eye health is something that you should be concerned with, every single day. And simply put, the vast assortment of choices that we make on a daily basis can have serious consequences, when it comes to your eyes. Not everything is negative, however — plenty of habits that you can adopt today, will benefit the health and strength of your eyes for years to come.
Some of those choices may involve making a radical change in your daily habits, while others might be less drastic. All of the actions discussed in this article represent things that you can do to improve the health of your eyes today. Keep reading to discover 5 things you can do for your eyes, to make them stronger and healthier over the long term.
5 Great Habits to Adopt When Concerned With the Health of Your Eyes
1) Stop Smoking. Smoking impacts every system in the body, and the eyes are certainly no exception. Smoking has been linked to the development of cataracts as well as macular degeration, and has been cited as a source of other maladies that include conjunctivitis and optic nerve damage.
2) Block the Sun From Your Eyes. Wearing sunglasses should be a daily part of your eye health routine. Make sure to choose a pair (or two) of sunglasses that block at least 99% of both UVA and UVB rays, as this will help protect the eyes from the damaging rays that cause sunburn. Note that UVA and UVB rays are still present even on a cloudy day, so don’t be shy about wearing sunglasses when the skies are gray – you are doing this or your eye health, not for fashion.
3) Eat Nutrient-Rich Food. Nutrition plays an important role in eye health just as it does for every other system in the body. Eating just about any kind of whole, fresh produce will promote bodily and eye health, but also be sure to get plenty of vitamin D and the mineral magnesium. Leafy greens are always a good choice that will stem the onset macular degeration. Nuts and any foods that boost your Omega-3 fatty acid intake will protect the health of your eyes.
4) Protect Yourself From Diabetes. Poor blood-sugar control can result in diabetic retinopathy. Keeping one’s weight in check and avoiding excess fats and sugars in the diet will also help avoid this chronic condition. When blood sugar levels undergo vast and sudden shifts, the actual shape of the eyeball will change, impacting vision. For this reason, when patients frequently change eyeglass prescriptions, they may actually be experiencing early signs of diabetes.
5) Get Plenty of Exercise. Exercise may improve the cardiovascular system, increase overall strength, and brighten one’s mood, but it is also beneficial to the health of your eyes. A regular exercise routine has been shown to decrease the chances of developing macular degeneration, and exercise decreases intraocular pressure (IOP). When IOP decreases, blood flow to the retina and optic nerve improves, leading to greater eye health.
When you start seeing your eyes as a part of the larger system that is your whole body, it becomes easier to make the sorts of choices that will support their long-term health. And if you haven’t made an appointment to visit your eye doctor for a regular examination, be sure to contact Beaumont Vision today.
[Photo Via: Wiseman Family Practice]