Just like any other part of your body, your eyes age as you get older. In honor of Healthy Aging Month, here are a few tips to help keep your eyes healthy as you age.
Aging is a process that brings many changes. Vision loss and blindness, however, do not have to be one of them. There are several simple steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy for the rest of your life.
- Visit your eye care practitioner - comprehensive eye exams are recommended on a regular basis for adults and children starting at six months old. For those 65 and older, as well as those with a family history of eye disease, it is advised that you visit your eye care practitioner more frequently.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Loading up on fruits and vegetables can help keep your eyes healthy and disease-free. Dark, leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and collard greens, which are good for your overall health and well-being, are especially good for eye health. Eye health benefits also come from eating fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.
- Know your risk factors. As you age, you are at higher risk of forming age-related eye diseases and ailments such as AMD, cataract, diabetic eye disease, dry eye, and glaucoma. Having a family history of eye disease also puts you at higher risk. And being heavy or obese increases your risk of forming diabetes and other systemic conditions that can lead to vision loss.
- Use protective eyewear. Put on protective eyewear like goggles, safety glasses, face shields, and eye guards when playing sports or doing activities around the home, and encourage your family and close friends to do the very same. Most protective eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times sturdier than other plastics.
(https://www.eyeandhealth.com/blog/september-is-healthy-aging-month)