Take Care of Your Eyes
No one wants to lose their eyesight. But most of those same people take their eyesight for granted. They don’t get their eyes checked; they don’t wear protective eyewear when performing tasks such as weed whacking or playing sports; they don’t wear sunglasses; and on and on.
At Central Valley Eye Medical Group, your vision is our obsession. Here are nine tips for protecting it.
- Know your family history of eye disease — Find out if you are at higher risk for issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Are you over 65 or African-American over 40? Any of those traits can make you at a higher risk for eye disease, making regular eye exams with our team even more important.
- Have regular physical exams to check your blood pressure and possible diabetes — Both of these diseases lead to eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
- Watch for changes in your vision — Double vision, trouble seeing in low light, red eyes, frequent flashes of light, floaters, eye pain. All of these symptoms need immediate attention.
- Protect your eyes from the sun — Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays. Why? UV rays cause cataracts and other eye problems.
- Eat better — Studies are showing that eating antioxidants such as blueberries and broccoli can reduce the risk of developing cataracts. And eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration.
- Exercise more — Regular exercise can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration by up to 70 percent.
- Don’t smoke — Smokers are more prone to developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, uveitis, and other eye problems.
- Get your eyes checked at least every two years — Many eye conditions don’t present symptoms until they are already beginning to damage your vision. But a comprehensive eye exam, including dilating your pupils, can determine your risk of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy.
- Wear protective eyewear — When playing sports, working with tools, doing yard work and the like, wear protective eyewear. This pretty much speaks for itself.
Posted in: Comprehensive Eye Exams