There are millions of products on the market designed to help you combat fine lines and wrinkles or dye away gray hair, but visible signs of aging aren’t the only things you should be thinking about as the years tick by. In honor of Healthy Aging Month, we’re taking a deeper look at how you can protect your vision today, tomorrow, and always.
1. Eat Smart
Maintaining a balanced diet doesn’t guarantee healthy eyes, but it could help prevent common age-related issues such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Stock your fridge with these eye-friendly foods:
- Dark leafy greens like kale for lutein and zeaxanthin
- Orange foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, and butternut squash for beta carotene
- Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables like grapefruit, strawberries, bell peppers, and cantaloupe
- Fish like salmon rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Catechin-rich ingredients like apples, red wine, green tea, chocolate, and berries
2. Watch Your Blue Light Exposure
It’s hard to completely eliminate screen time, but taking regular breaks from your computer or smartphone gives your eyes a chance to relax. WebMD recommends the 20/20/20 rule, which is taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at least 20 feet away.
3. Work Out Regularly
Even moderate exercise boosts your circulation which in turn helps deliver a steady stream oxygen to your eyes. You don’t have to take up CrossFit or run marathons, either; light aerobics two to three days per week and daily walks can be hugely beneficial not just for your sight but for your overall well-being.
4. Wear Proper Eye Protection
Protect your eyes from damaging UV rays by wearing sunglasses whenever you’re out and about. Wearing safety frames can keep you from becoming one of the 300,000 Americans who wind up in the ER due to a work-related eye injury, and also wearing sports eyewear helps minimize risk while you’re swimming, golfing, playing baseball, bicycling, hunting, and more.
Another way to keep your eyes healthy: schedule regular eye exams! To get on the schedule here at Illinois Eye Center, call our office today at (309) 243-2400.