Eight Ways to Help You Protect Your Eyesight as You Age

As your increase in age, so do parts of your body begin to change, eyes included. For this reason, you will realize that most people in their late 40s or early 50's start having problems with their eyes. This is especially when reading or using a computer. Other issues that your eyes may develop with age are such as myopia and hypermetropia.  Luckily, although some of these issues are inevitable, it is possible to postpone the age at which they are likely to occur for a later one to reduce their extent with several medical tips. Here are some of these ways through which you can help protect your eyesight and keep it strong as you age.

Watch Your Diet

Like any other body part, there are foods that you eat that are perfect for your eyes. For instance, foods rich in vitamin A such as carrots are good for your eyesight. Additionally, other minerals and vitamins that are good for your eyesight are such as zinc, vitamin C, copper, and vitamin E. Eating such foods right from an early age helps you take care of your eyesight. As a result, it will take a long time before your eyesight starts deteriorating.

Get Enough Sleep

Inadequate sleep is dangerous to many parts of your body, eyes included. When you sleep, your body gets to rest, and your eyes are renewed. For this reason, they will be re-energized and ready for the other activities ahead of them. Enough sleep is most important if you engage in eye-straining activities such as reading a book or working on a computer for long hours. Getting short breaks when you can close your eyes for a while will also help improve their health.

Go for Regular Eye Exams and Eye Checkups

More often than not, most people wait until they have a major eye problem to visit an optician. However, if you expect to maintain your eyesight until you are older, you need to make frequent appointments with your eye doctor. Therefore, make regular visits to the optician and examine issues such as alignment, retina exam, eye tone, prescriptions for corrective lenses. The opticians will also help in issues such clinical myopia management. When such problems are diagnosed and treated early, it is possible to prevent them from ever re-occurring even when you are older.

Obey Instructions from Your Optician

During your regular visits for eye checkups, your doctor may realize issues that may cause havoc with your eyesight. As a result, they advise on some practices to do and some to avoid to help reduce the risk. Though some of them may be inconvenient, disobeying them will cost you your eyesight. For instance, your doctor may recommend that you use glasses every time you are using a computer or any other bright screen such as heed. Heed to such instructions to help you maintain your vision without deteriorating the problem.

Take All Warning Signs from Your Eyes Seriously

Before your eyes develop any significant issues, they usually have some symptoms that are is not well. For instance, you may realize that you have a double vision, a cloudy vision, or a blurred vision. Additionally, your eyes may be painful or bother you in some types of lights. Either way, contact an optician as soon as you realize any of these problems. The doctor will diagnose and recommend some collective measure such as clinical myopia management. This way, it will be possible to rectify any issue that could become a big problem if ignored.

Exercise Your Eyes

Like any other part of your body, your eyes need exercise for them to be function properly. Additionally, for there to be sufficient circulation of blood and oxygen in the body, regular exercise is needed. Therefore, engage in activities that help strengthen and relax your eyes, such as eye-rolling, the moving finger, eye press, eye massage, and blinking, among others. By repeating such exercises from time to time, your eyes not only become energized but also remain healthy for a long time.  

Avoid Smoking

Your eyes are among the body parts that are affected when you smoke. Smoking causes damage to your eyes that could eventually lead to blindness. For instance, it increases the risk of developing AMD (age-related muscular degeneration), which affects the retina. Additionally, the smoke irritates the eyes, not to mention, increases the risk of dry eyes. Smoking in pregnancy also affects the eyesight of an infant. This is the reason why you may find a baby born blind. Therefore, avoid smoking, either actively or passively, for the sake of your eyesight.

Be in Eye-Friendly Surroundings

Some of the conditions that surround your eyes could be harmful to the eyes. For instance, allowing chlorine swimming pool water in your eyes, reading in dim light, being in front of a bright screen for a long time, or using fluorescent lights could damage your eyes. For this reason, ensure that every surrounding that you are at is friendly for your eyes. If you have to be at a place with bright light, use shades to cover your eyes. This way, you will maintain good eye health over a long time.

An increase in age may lead to deterioration of various body functions such as eyesight. Luckily, by leading a healthy lifestyle and practicing useful eye care tips, it is possible to maintain your eyesight. Use the tips above to help you continue enjoying your sight even in old age.