The month of March is Save Your Vision Awareness Month, which makes now a great time to start considering how essential your vision is to almost every daily activity you do. Your vision also allows you to see all the breathtaking beauty there is in Water Valley and elsewhere all around the globe. Your sight is a precious gift that should not be taken for granted, and we all need to take some steps to help preserve our vision, so we never lose the privilege of being able to enjoy all the wonders of our world. Senior home care professionals often provide care for seniors whose vision is failing, and they would be the first to tell you that the gift of sight is something that should be protected at all costs.
Get regular eye exams
Most people as they age have fewer activities on their schedule, which means the bulk of their time will be consumed by vision-centered activities. That being the case, your sight will be just as crucial in your later years as it is when you’re younger, so the first thing you should do to help protect your vision is to see an eye specialist once a year. If any physical changes are taking place, for instance, the development of cataracts, the doctor will spot it and can recommend some appropriate action. If your vision is weakening as a consequence of aging, your doctor can recommend a change to your glasses that will keep you seeing things properly. This may be the single most important step you can take to preserve your vision.
Manage your weight
If you allow your weight to continually rise as you age, you’ll be at a greater risk of developing medical conditions like diabetes and some other types of systemic disorders, any of which might cause you to lose your vision entirely. Regardless of your age, you can still get your weight under control by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet. Researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia have discovered that a person who loses a significant amount of weight has the potential of reversing eye damage that might be caused by obesity, diabetes, or high blood pressure. Additional research has conclusively shown that active individuals have a 73% lower risk of eventually developing glaucoma than individuals who are mostly sedentary. These are clear indications that being active and managing your weight can be very beneficial to healthy vision.
Eat vision-healthy foods
It might seem a little far-fetched to say that you can eat your way to healthy vision, but there is definitely a grain of truth in that statement. For instance, there’s an old saying that eating lots of carrots will be beneficial for your vision. That old saying is true, but carrots aren’t the only thing that can contribute to better vision. If your diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly things like dark, leafy greens, the antioxidants they contain can help to avoid the development of cataracts. Grapes are another food that helps protect the retina of your eye against oxidative stress, which can be quite damaging. Other foods that contribute to better eye health are fish such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, all of which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Rest your eyes regularly
Anyone who works at a computer all day is at risk of developing eye fatigue by the end of a long workday, especially if they don’t blink as often as they should. A good rule of thumb is to follow the 20-20-20 rule recommended by the National Eye Institute. This calls for you to look at something else 20 feet in front of you for at least 20 seconds after you have been staring at your computer screen for 20 minutes. Research has projected that more than 50% of the world’s people will be short-sighted by the year 2050 if the current trend persists of spending so much time using electronic devices. Another good way of resting your eyes is to spend significant amounts of time outdoors, rather than spending so much time on activities that require close-up focusing. And of course, it goes without saying that whenever you’re engaged in any activity that could possibly result in an accident to your eyes, you should wear protective eye gear until the job is completely finished.
Wear sunglasses
The most important thing that sunglasses do for you is to protect your eyes against the harsh ultraviolet rays given off by the sun. There’s no question that most people are concerned about their eyes when they’re out in the sun, but the fact is that only about 31% actually protect their eyes by wearing sunglasses outdoors. When you choose a pair of sunglasses, your number one concern should be safety rather than style. Try to find a pair of sunglasses that block nearly 100% of ultraviolet radiation. Anytime you’re outdoors enjoying a swim, taking a hike, or just cheering on your local baseball team, make sure that your eyes are fully protected against the sun by wearing sunglasses.