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Posted by: Georgia Center for Sight

From the moment you wake up to the moment you close your eyes to sleep, your eyes play an essential role in your ability to navigate the world. Just as your body ages, so too will your eyesight begin to change as you grow older. Some changes are driven by heredity, and the elements of our environment exacerbate others.

Without healthy eyes, your quality of life would likely change dramatically. Here’s the good news: developing these simple eye-healthy habits can help protect your eye health.

Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands for 20 seconds is a crucial habit to adopt for your overall health and vital for your eye health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many common vision-related diseases can be spread by touching in or around the eye with an unwashed hand.

Bacterial and viral infections can cause long-term eyesight damage. To reduce your risk, develop a healthy handwashing routine. Also, never touch near your eyes for any reason if you have not just washed your hands.

Wear Eye Protection

It only takes one time not wearing protective glasses for something to become lodged in your eye. Wear eye protection around projectile-flinging equipment every time. Eye protection can also include wearing sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection.

Eat A Nutritious Diet 

A diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains benefits the entire body, including the eyes. Studies show that foods rich in vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, and zeaxanthin are good for eye health. These nutrients are linked to a lower risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and dry eye later in life. Eye-healthy food choices include citrus fruits, vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, and cold-water fish.

Get A Good Night’s Sleep

Don’t short-change yourself by skimping on your sleep. Make sure you get enough sleeping Z’s to allow your eyes to rest, reducing strain and eye problems such as dry eye. Adults should aim to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Your eyes will thank you!

Move Your Body

Thirty minutes of daily exercise benefit one’s heart, waistline, and energy level. Also, regular physical activity can do the eyes a world of good! Many eye diseases are linked to other health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.

Quit Smoking

Avoiding smoking and second-hand smoke — or quitting, for current smokers — are some of the best investments everyone can make for long-term eye health. Smoking increases the risk of eye diseases like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Tobacco smoke, including second-hand smoke, also worsens dry eye.

Take Charge of Your Eye Health!

Don’t skip your eye exam, and schedule your eye exam TODAY! We are here to help our patients identify issues early and advise about lifestyle changes to keep their eyes healthy.

You only get one set of eyes; keep them in tip-top shape!

References: American Academy of Ophthalmology. This blog provides information and discussion about eye health and related subjects. The content provided in this blog and any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, they should consult with an appropriately licensed physician.

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