6 Ways To Maintain Eye Health If You're Over 50
Aging and certain lifestyle choices can affect your vision, especially if you're in your 50s and up. While it's normal for your eyes and vision to change, there are certain actions you can take to protect your sight.
6 Tips for 50+ Eye Health
- Eat Well. A well-balanced diet helps maintain healthy eyes and reduces your odds of developing serious eye diseases. Focus on foods rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, fatty acids, lutein, and zinc.
- Quit Smoking. Smoking can significantly increase the chances of developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, as well as diabetic retinopathy. The sooner you quit, the better.
- Exercise. Exercising for at least 20 minutes a day is great for your whole body, including your eyes, by increasing blood flow to the optic nerve and retina.
- Protect Your Eyes.
- Sunglasses: Protecting your eyes from UV rays can slow down cataract development, prevent sun damage to your retina, and lower the risk of skin cancer near your eyes.
- Protective Eyewear: Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or working with wood, glass, or metal to shield your eyes from injury.
- Give Your Eyes a Rest. If you spend a lot of time reading, driving, or looking at digital devices, implement the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
- Have Regular Eye Exams. A comprehensive eye exam is crucial, as it can detect eye conditions that don't display any symptoms until vision loss has already occurred — such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Schedule an eye exam with St. Clairsville Eyecare in St. Clairsville to check your eye health today. Call (740) 695-0444.