Do These Things Now to Have Healthy Eyes Later

Few people worry about their eye health until problems develop. Yet, there are essential steps you can take to protect your eyes, support optimal vision, and lower the risk of eye injuries and diseases that develop with age.

At Eye Care & Surgery, our team offers exceptional eye treatments, but we also specialize in preventive eye care. Here, we share seven steps you can take now to preserve your sight and have healthy eyes for years to come.

1. Protect your eyes from sunlight

Ultraviolet light damages your eyes, contributing to injuries and chronic eye diseases, including:

• Photokeratitis (corneal sunburn)
• Pterygium (overgrowth of conjunctival tissues)
• Cataracts (cloudy eye lens)
• Macular degeneration (damage to the macula, which is essential for central and color vision)
• Eyelid skin cancer (most often on the lower lid)

You can protect your eyes by wearing high-quality sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays (UV400). Wearing a broad-brimmed hat also provides an added layer of protection.

2. Wear protective eye gear

Eye injuries can occur during many everyday activities, including exposure to household cleaners, steam from cooking, and yard work or home improvements that send debris flying into your eyes.

Construction and manufacturing jobs are known for their high risk of eye injuries, but office workers can also damage their eyes with prolonged screen time.

If you’re engaged in a high-risk activity, protect your eyes with the appropriate eyewear, goggles, or a face shield.

If you have an eye injury, seek immediate care. Don’t rub your eye, try to remove an object stuck in your eye, or apply an ointment before consulting us (or seeing a healthcare professional in an urgent care clinic or emergency room).

3. Give your eyes a rest (and blink)

People tend to blink less when they’re watching TV, texting, or using a computer. You need to blink to spread tears across your eyes, which keeps them lubricated and nourished.

Prolonged use of electronic devices leads to eye strain, resulting in dry, blurry, itchy, and sore eyes. Electronic devices also send out blue light that can damage the retina.

Keeping the screen at arm’s length (not near your eyes) and following the 20-20-20 rule will help prevent these problems. The 20-20-20 rule reminds you to take a break every 20 minutes by looking at something that’s 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

4. Manage chronic diseases

Chronic diseases, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, can damage your eyes if they’re not well-controlled. Diabetes is especially dangerous.

High blood sugar damages blood vessels in your eyes, leading to diabetic retinopathy, one of the top causes of adult-onset vision loss. Uncontrolled diabetes also increases the risk of macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma.

5. Eat for your eyes

Following a healthy, well-balanced diet supports your eyes as much as your body, but your eyes depend on specific nutrients.

The nutrients in this list may help prevent certain age-related eye conditions. Eye specialists recommend them as part of the treatment for age-related macular degeneration.

• Vitamin C (citrus, berries, tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli)
• Vitamin E (nuts, seeds, spinach, and broccoli)
• Zinc (fortified cereals, pumpkin seeds, turkey, pork, and cheddar cheese)
• Omega-3 fatty acids (walnuts, salmon, mackerel, trout, tuna, and flaxseeds)
• Lutein and zeaxanthin (dark green leafy vegetables, peppers, squash, and egg yolks)

Lutein and zeaxanthin are vital antioxidants protecting the macula and retina. They also help filter light, protecting your eyes from sun damage.

6. Stop smoking

Smoking contributes to cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and dry-eye disease. It may also have a role in optic nerve damage and glaucoma.

7. Schedule routine eye exams

School-age children should have their vision screened every year or two. All adults should have a baseline comprehensive eye exam at the age of 40, with follow-up exams every 2-4 years.

But you may need to have your first exam earlier and schedule more frequent follow-ups if you have an existing eye condition or you’re at risk of developing one. For example, people with diabetes should have an exam right after learning they have the disease.

We recommend when to have comprehensive eye examinations based on your individual needs, medical history, and risk factors.

Have questions about your eye health?

Whether you want to know about preventive eye care or you’re worried about your risk factors for eye problems, our Eye Care & Surgery team is here to help. Call or schedule an appointment online today. Our New York locations are in Fort Washington, the Bronx, and New Rochelle.