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As we get old, just like our body starts to lose its physical strength, our vision also gets weak & eyesight gets worse with age – especially after the age of 60.
We tend to take more care of the rest of the body & neglect eye health. We should equally concentrate on trying to maintain good eye health & protect our vision for a better quality of life as we grow older.
Aging affects our eyes in many ways like loss of peripheral vision, reduced pupil size, decreased color vision, dry eye, etc. Age linked diseases like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataract, etc. are the foremost causes of blindness and low vision.
This article covers a few tips that will help you maintain vision & protect your eyesight as you age –
Consume Food Good for Eye
Eat a healthy & balanced diet to keep your eye healthy and maintain good eyesight. As per a study, the consumption of antioxidants can probably reduce the risk of developing cataracts. Fruits and colorful or dark green vegetables contain a high amount of antioxidants.
Some studies claim that the consumption of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of developing macular degeneration.
Sheild your Eye from Harmful UV Light
Ultraviolet rays are not only harmful to your skin but also to your eyes. Long term exposure of eyes to UV light may increase your risk of developing a cataract, pinguecula, and eye problems.
To protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, make sure you wear sunglasses when you step out in the sun.
Annual Eye Checkups
Diseases like diabetic retinopathy usually have no warning signs and symptoms. A thorough eye exam can determine your chance for major eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy.
Annual eye checkups also determine if your eyeglasses or contact lens that you are using need an upgrade for more clear vision.
Regular Exercise
As per research exercise like brisk walking can lower the risk of macular degeneration by 70 percent.
Quit Smoking
People who smoke are at higher risk of developing age-related eye conditions like macular degeneration, uveitis, cataract, etc.
To maintain healthy eyesight and protect your vision, experts suggest to avoid or quit smoking.
Check For Eye Problems Causing Diseases
You need to aware of whether you have diabetes or high blood pressure. Diabetes and high blood pressure are culprits of many eye conditions like glaucoma, retinopathy, etc. It is also essential to know your family history. If diabetes & high blood pressure runs in the family, a person is at higher risk of having eye diseases compared to others.
Keep your Diabetes and High Blood Pressure in Control
If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, make sure you get them treated. Regularly undergo a physical exam to keep your diabetes or High BP in check. If this disease goes, untreated can later lead to eye problems like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and in severe case vision loss too. To maintain eye health, you need to manage your diabetes or high blood pressure first
Consult Ophthalmologist if you Notice Change in Vision
Before a severe eye problem occurs, you may start getting warning signs of vision change. If you notice that recently you have a hazy or double vision, consult your doctor immediately.
Don’t ignore red eyes, eye pain, swelling of the eye, floater or frequent flashes of light as this can be symptoms of rather a severe eye problem.
