Tips for healthy eyes

Eyesight is something that many of us take for granted.  Yet every year, thousands of people lose their best vision due to injury or disease.  There are parts of the eye that, once damaged, cannot be repaired or replaced.  It is important to take good care of your eyes to keep them as healthy as possible.Let me write some tips.

Consult your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your vision.  Trouble signs include: double or blurred vision, halos around lights, parts of letters or words missing from a printed page, difficulty judging depth perception on stairs or curbs, faded or distorted print, washed-out or faded colors, inability to see faces clearly, difficulty seeing when going from light to dark, sparks of light appearing off to the side, sudden pain in one or both eyes, or sudden appearance of “floaters” in your line of vision.

Protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays, dust, wind and bright lights.  Be sure to wear sunglasses that protect your eyes from UV rays.  The UV blocking capacity should be clearly stated on the label or manufacturer’s warranty.

Eat a healthy diet.  Research suggests that diets rich in antioxidants (leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits), carotenoids (carrots, kale, and spinach) zinc (beef, pork and lamb), and selenium (fish, shellfish, and red meat) play a beneficial role in helping to reduce the severity of certain age-related eye diseases.

 Take care to avoid accidental injury to eyes.  Wear protective goggles when doing yard work, using power tools or playing sports.  If a foreign body enters your eye, DO NOT RUB your eye; instead, wash it with plenty of water.If the particle does not wash out see your eye doctor immediately.  If acid or any other chemical gets into your eyes,immediately flush them with plenty of water for 15 minutes, seek emergency care (emergency room visit) or see your eye doctor immediately.

Quick tips

 Eat smart. A diet rich in fruits, leafy vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids may reduce your risk of dry

eyes and macular degeneration.

Quit smoking. Smoking increases your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and other serious eye

problems. If you smoke, quit. If you don’t, don’t start.

Get moving. Research suggests exercise may reduce your risk of glaucoma and diabetes-related

vision loss.

Schedule regular eye exams. Kids and seniors, especially, should have comprehensive eye exams

yearly to monitor vision changes.

Upgrade your eyeglasses. Ask your eye doctor about new high-definition lenses and anti-reflective

coatings that may provide sharper vision than your current glasses.

Wear sunglasses. Protecting your eyes from the sun’s UV rays may reduce your risk of cataracts and

macular degeneration—especially if you wear sunglasses throughout your lifetime.

Take care of your contacts. See your eye doctor annually if you wear contacts, and be sure to clean,

disinfect and replace your lenses as directed to avoid discomfort and eye infections.

Wear safety eyewear. Experts say 90 percent of eye injuries can be prevented with safety glasses and

sports eyewear.

Reduce computer eye strain. Rest your eyes from computer work every 20 minutes to relieve strain

and avoid dry eyes. Also, ask your eye doctor about stress-relieving computer glasses.

Consider sports eyewear. Protect your eyes, increase comfort and improve your performance with

specially tinted sports eyewear for your particular sport or outdoor activity.

Get downloading. If you own a mobile device, you can download eye-related apps such as magnifiers,

eye medication reminder tools and apps that let you try on “virtual” eyewear.

Give something back. Donate your old glasses and contribute to vision charities to help give the gift of

sight to those in need—both locally and around the world.

Take care your eyes and your family too.