All our five senses are very important, but there’s no question that the eyes are one of the most essential. We won’t be able to see all the beautiful things around us without the sense of sight. Well, you obviously won’t be able to read this article if you can’t see, unless of course somebody reads this for you or it’s converted into Braille. This is why we need to properly take care of our organs of vision.
To make sure you maintain your 20/20 vision, there are things you need to do for that. Below is a list of tips you can follow to continue having healthy eyes:
Get a comprehensive eye exam – Even if you think there’s nothing wrong with your vision since you can read text clearly (whether it’s from a distance or close to your face), you should still undergo a comprehensive eye examination, specifically a dilated eye exam. This type of eye exam can determine early signs of certain eye diseases like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and even macular degeneration due to old age. The popular adage ‘An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure’ really holds a lot of truth in this case.
Eat eye-friendly food – Perhaps the most popular food that’s healthy for our eyes is carrots. Certainly, carrots contain beta carotene, which the retina and other parts of the eye function more smoothly. However, don’t limit your options to carrots when choosing eye-friendly foods. You should also include leafy greens in your diet. They contain lots of lutein and zeaxanthin, which are antioxidants that can help lower the risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. Eating fish that has high omega-3 fatty acids content (like salmon and tuna) also has health benefits for our eyes.
Maintain an ideal weight – Believe it or not, being overweight or obese can have a significant impact on the health of our visual organs. It can actually increase the risk of developing diabetes and other diseases. If you tip the scales at way more than the ideal weight, you can develop systemic conditions that may lead to loss of vision.
Protect your eyes – You may have had enough of the reminders about keeping our eyes protected from UV or ultraviolet rays from the sun, but it’s really important to protect our eyes from these harmful rays. Studies have shown that UV exposure to the eye has been associated with retinal degeneration and cataract formation. Every time you go out on a bright, sunny day, be sure to wear sunglasses that block out 99 to 100% of UV radiation. You can ask your optometrist what type of shades you should wear to protect your eyes against UV radiation.
Without a doubt, your eyes are a very important of your health. Make sure you keep them healthy so you can continue to literally see things clearly.
