Tips on how to protect eyes and vision

1. Know your risk factors for eye diseases.
Be aware of your personal health and your family’s health
history. For example:
·
Do you or anyone in your family have diabetes?
·
Is there a personal of family history of high
blood pressure?
·
Are you over 65 years of age?
·
Are you of African descent and over the age of
40?
·
Any of these traits increase your risk for
sight-threatening eye diseases.
2. Have your blood sugar and
blood pressure checked regularly.
If undetected or left untreated,
these diseases can cause serious eye problems. In particular, diabetes and high
blood pressure can lead to vision loss from diabetic retinopathy and eye
strokes.
3. Pay attention to any
changes in your vision.
If you start noticing changes in
your vision, consult an eye doctor immediately. Signs to look for include:
·
Double vision
·
Hazy vision
·
Poor night vision
·
Red eyes
·
Flashes of light
·
Floaters
·
Swelling of your eyes or eyelids

4. Exercise frequently.
Some studies suggest that regular
exercise — such as walking — can reduce the risk of age-related macular
degeneration by up to 70 percent.
5. Protect your eyes from UV.
When outdoors during daytime,
always wear sunglasses that shield your eyes from 100 percent of the sun's
harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. This may help reduce your risk of cataracts,
pinguecula and other eye problems.
6. Eat a healthy and balanced
diet.
Research has shown that
antioxidants may reduce the risk of cataracts. These antioxidants are obtained
from eating a diet containing plentiful amounts of fruits and colorful or dark
green vegetables. Studies also have shown that eating fish rich in omega-3
fatty acids may reduce your risk of developing macular degeneration.
Consider supplementing your diet
with eye vitamins to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of the
nutrients you need to keep your eyes healthy.
7. Have your eyes examined at
least every two years.
A comprehensive eye exam,
including dilating your pupils, can determine your risk for major eye diseases
such as diabetic retinopathy, which has no early warning signs or symptoms.
Regular eye exams also will keep
your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses up to date so you are seeing
as clearly as possible.
Great tips👍🏼
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