This week, we’re taking some time to focus on women’s eye health and safety, an important topic that often goes overlooked. Busy schedules, work obligations and personal commitments mean we tend to put others first, but there are a few simple things you can do to protect your eye health and reduce your risk of eye disease.
Schedule Routine Eye Exams
Did you know that twice as many women than men suffer from dry eye? They’re also at higher risk for visual impairment in general, including blindness. Certain factors such as autoimmune diseases, certain cancer treatments and age-related hormonal changes could all affect eye health, and you might not even know there’s a problem until the condition progresses enough to produce symptoms.
Regular eye exams give your doctor an opportunity to evaluate your eyes and track changes so potential issues can be spotted early and treated accordingly.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
While some diseases such as macular degeneration have no cure, there are steps you can take to either help prevent or slow down the progression:
- Stop smoking
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from damaging UV rays
- Incorporate lots of dark leafy greens into your diet — they contain carotenoids that are good for your vision
- Take a multivitamin to ensure you’re getting the proper nutrients
- Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly
- Monitor both your blood pressure and cholesterol
Keep an Eye on Any Changes in Your Vision
Anytime you experience an unexpected change in your eyesight, it’s time for a visit to your ophthalmologist. Sometimes, you can attribute vision changes to a temporary condition such as pregnancy, when a women’s eyesight may be altered because of increased blood volume, gestational diabetes or migraines. Other times, you may notice very early signs of cataracts or glaucoma and be able to seek treatment while an intervention can have the largest impact.
For more information on protecting your eyesight or to schedule an eye exam and check up on the health of your vision, call Illinois Eye Center today at (309) 243-2400.