Currently, over 20 million Americans are dealing with serious vision loss conditions. While some eye diseases are caused by genetics and family history, many of them can be prevented by simply taking a few steps to protect your vision and improve your overall health. Living a healthy lifestyle can help to reduce your chances of developing future vision loss.
Here are 5 tips to help improve your eye health and reduce your risks of future vision loss:
1. Wear UV ray blocking sunglasses: Over-exposure to the suns harmful UV rays can increase your risks of developing cataracts dramatically. Choosing the proper pair of sunglasses when you go outside is necessary in reducing your eyes exposure to the sun, as well as reduce your risks of developing cataracts. Make sure your sunglasses of choice are certified to block 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays for optimum levels of protection.
2. Eat a balanced and healthy diet: Failing to supply your eyes with the right amounts of vitamins and nutrients can increase your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Look to eat more than just carrots though, as there are a variety of other vegetables (such as leafy greens) that also have high levels of eye nutrients. Make sure your diet has plenty of Vitamins C and E, as well as zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids!
3. Put down the cigarettes: Smoking tobacco is directly linked to a large assortment of health issues, this includes age-related macular degeneration. Studies show that smokers are far more likely to develop symptoms of AMD compared to those who do not or have never smoked. Smokers are also at a increased risk of developing cataracts.
4. Make sure to wear eye protection: There are an estimated 2.5 million eye injuries in the U.S. alone every year, so make sure you are taking the necessary precautions to protect your vision when working in hazardous environments or with power tools. These eye injuries are also caused while doing outdoor activities, such as playing sports, so always make sure your protective eyewear is certified to protect your vision.
5. Take eye fatigue seriously: If you work in an office and spend most of your day staring at a computer screen, make sure you are taking the necessary steps to provide your vision time to rest throughout the day. Simply taking a moment to close your eyes for a few seconds every hour, will do plenty in the long run to help reduce symptoms of digital eye strain and eye fatigue.