A Guide to Healthy Eyes and Better Vision

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." 

Taking care of your eyes is just as important as your overall health. As you age, your risk for developing eye diseases increases, especially if you have other systemic diseases on the side, like diabetes. Don't fret; you can easily prevent a lot of these diseases, here's how you can do it!

Wear Protective Eyewear 

Your eyes are very sensitive to absorbing UV light, affecting all of its structures. Prolonged exposures to sunlight can increase the risk of developing some major eye diseases, such as the following: 

• Photokeratitis and photoconjunctivitis

These conditions are primarily inflammations of your cornea and your conjunctiva – the membrane lining your eyes and underneath the eyelids. They can be very painful but do not damage overall eye health long-term and are highly reversible. 

• Pterygium 

This common cosmetic blemish is linked to prolonged exposure to UV radiation. In extreme cases, this may become inflamed, extending over the center of the cornea resulting in reduced vision. This can be removed through surgery, but this usually recurs. 

• Cataracts 

Exposure to UV rays makes the proteins in your eyes cloudy, sometimes opaque – imagine egg whites turning from clear to white when you cook them. This would then accumulate, eventually resulting in vision loss. 

• Age-related macular degeneration or AMD 

Other forms of UV rays can penetrate deep into your eyes, reaching the retina. Continuous exposure to UV radiation would eventually lead to slow but progressive damage to your retina, resulting in an impairment in your overall vision. AMD is the most common cause of vision loss among Americans aged 50 and above. 

Wearing sunglasses can protect your eyes from these concerns. When outdoors, it can help shield your eyes from the sun's harmful UV rays. However, not all sunglasses are created equal. When choosing a pair, make sure they have a tag or sticker indicating that it offers 100 percent UV protection from all UV light. 

Many would think that the darker the lens, the better. This is quite the opposite. Only sunglasses with 100% UV protection provide the safety that you need. 

If glare bothers you, try using sunglasses with polarizing lenses. They block out horizontal light usually reflected on flat surfaces, reducing glare and making them more comfortable, especially on bright, sunny days. 

Level Up Your Healthy Eating Game

A key lifestyle factor that can have long-term effects on eye health is diet. Your eyesight and overall eye health can be enhanced by supplementing your diet with powerful vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. 

Wanna know more? Here is a quick guide: 

• Vitamin C

Your eyes are hungry for oxygen, making them highly metabolic. This renders your eyes having the added need for antioxidant protection. Vitamin C has powerful antioxidant capabilities that can slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Good sources of vitamin C that you should try incorporating into your diet are oranges, strawberries, grapefruit, papaya, green peppers, and tomatoes. 

• Essential fatty acids

Certain Foods must provide essential fatty acids or EFAs since your body cannot make these from scratch. Of high importance, Omega-3 fatty acids stimulate proper visual development and overall eye health. Good sources of your omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, tuna, and other cold-water fish. 

• Lutein & Zeaxanthin

Research has shown that lutein and zeaxanthin reduce the risk of developing chronic eye diseases. They are not just good antioxidants; these compounds also prevent damage by absorbing blue light and decreasing its intensity. Dietary sources of these nutrients primarily come from dark green leafy vegetables and other colorful fruits and vegetables like broccoli, corn, peas, persimmons, and tangerines.

• Vitamin E

We see it in commercials, TV ads, and magazines. Vitamin E has been shown to have a protective antioxidant effect, protecting the cells in your eyes from unstable molecules or free radicals, which break down healthy tissue. Good sources of Vitamin E include vegetable oils ( safflower and corn oil), nuts, wheat germ, and sweet potatoes.

• Zinc

Zinc is a major player in maintaining the health of your retina, having critical functions for the optimal metabolism of your eye. Research has shown that zinc deficiency has been linked with impaired vision, such as poor night vision and cloudy cataracts. Natural dietary sources of zinc include red meat, oysters and other shellfish, nuts, and seeds.

Get an Eye Exam 

Annual eye exams are the best way to maintain your overall eye health. Many eye diseases can sneak up on you without apparent symptoms, especially if you have other comorbidities like diabetes or hypertension. Based on WHO's data, a considerable portion of eye diseases could have been prevented if detected earlier. 

Learn more about eye exams here - Eye Exams: Which Ones Do You Need Right Now? 

Your Eyes Need Rest 

The average American spends over 7 hours looking at screens daily, either in the office or working from home. You might have felt discomfort after looking at screens for a long time. This is most likely digital eye strain. Many of us blink less when looking at screens, causing our eye muscles to strain and our eyes to dry out. Not only that, blue light from screens may contribute to damage to your eyes. The good news is that this is easily avoidable. 

Following the "20-20-20" rule is a good start in preventing eye strain – for every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. Dry eyes? Artificial tears can make your eyes feel refreshed whenever they dry up. 

Other tips you can also consider for your home setup are the following:

• Establish a distance from your device, at least 20 inches for larger screens and 13 inches for smaller screens.
• It helps when room lighting matches the brightness of your screen.
• Adjust the screen by tilting the bottom towards you to reduce the glare.

Put a Stop on That Smoking Habit

Smoking is as dangerous to your eye health as it is to your overall health. It can increase the risk of developing throat and lung cancer and raise the likelihood of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration or AMD. These diseases would then eventually lead to vision loss or blindness. 

According to CDC, if you smoke: 

• The risk of developing AMD has increased twice compared to those who do not smoke. 
• You have a two to three times the increased risk of developing cataracts compared with people who do not smoke

Own a Pair of Quality Glasses

Starting to have blurry vision? Headaches won't stop whenever you're reading? There is no need to deny that it's time you invest in a pair of good glasses. Not only are their more stylish glasses available now but quality glasses:

• Improve your visual acuity 
• Fit comfortable and prescribed for you 
• Reliable protection for your eyes
• They are effortless to maintain

We Have Just the Thing for You! 

Here at Modern Focus Eyecare, we provide high-quality frames with a vast selection of lenses for eyeglasses, ranging from polarized to photochromic and contact lenses. Let's talk about your eye health today. Call us at (972) 617-800.