Ensuring Your Eye Health for the Future
As kids, many of us were told to eat our carrots because they would help us see. While this is true—carrots are a strong source of antioxidants like beta carotene and lutein that contribute to our eye health—we must do more than eat carrots to protect our vision. If you prioritize your eye care now and are proactive about seeking treatment for any concerns, you can help prevent vision loss in the future.
Tip 1: Schedule an annual eye exam. A comprehensive eye exam is so important for patients whether they are experiencing symptoms and concerns or not. Some eye diseases like glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration have early warning signs like headaches or nausea that are general and can be difficult to attribute to an eye concern. However, an ophthalmologist will be able to detect even the faintest signs of eye disease by reviewing scans of your eyes. When you detect the onset of an eye disease early, you can better treat it and control your symptoms.
Tip 2: Research your family’s eye history. Did you know that many eye conditions are hereditary? If you do not have a solid understanding of your family’s eye history, now is the time to do your research. Make sure you communicate this history to your eye doctor during your annual eye exam so he or she can look for any early warning signs of those conditions.
Tip 3: Wear sunglasses. Most of us would not go out into the sun without using sunscreen to prevent a painful sunburn on our skin. The same should be true about shielding our eyes. Protect your eyes from harmful UV exposure by wearing sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection or UV400. This is not just a tip for summer eye safety: Wear those shades outdoors all year long.
Tip 4: Practice the 20-20-20 rule. It goes without saying that many of us spend hours a day staring at a screen, and there is not much we can do about it. But you can be proactive about preventing computer eye strain with frequent breaks: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away from your screen for 20 seconds. This will give your eyes a much-needed rest.
Tip 5: Practice good hygiene habits to prevent eye infections. Do not touch your eyes with unwashed hands. Use and wear your contact lenses properly. For example, if you wear daily disposable lenses, make sure you are discarding each pair on a daily basis.
We hope these tips will help you be more mindful about your eye health and protect your vision for the future. If you are interested in learning more about LASIK for vision correction, we are happy to provide more information. Simply take the first step and make an appointment for a consultation with our LASIK surgery team.
