An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it won’t preserve your eyesight; that’s up to you. Many of us rely on glasses to see, but we shouldn’t depend on them to keep our eyes healthy. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to strengthen your vision and detect diseases. With the proper care and keeping, your eyesight can improve.
How to Care for Your Eyes
1.) See an eye doctor regularly. Make sure they check for various diseases, and don’t be afraid to ask them questions if something doesn’t feel right.
2.) Take note of your diet. Vegetables such as corn, spinach, peppers, and other dark greens can help your eyesight in general, while eating carrots can strengthen your night vision.
3.) Stop smoking! Many vision problems stem from this bad habit.
4.) Wear protective sunglasses when you’re outside.
Cataract
A cataract is one of the most common vision-impairing diseases. It is the clouding of the lens that affects your eyesight, and it is seen frequently in adults. Its symptoms include:
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Faded colors
- Objects that give off light may appear too bright
- A blurriness of color may form around light
- Frequent changes in your prescription glasses
The early signs of a cataract can be helped with new glasses, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses, but the only definite treatment is surgery. During surgery, the cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial lens.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma affects the optic nerve, which is the nerve that carries what you see to your brain. It is classified as a group of diseases that are often due to pressure in the eye. Glaucoma is the trickiest of the conditions because most sufferers do not show any symptoms. By the time you notice a change in your eyesight, it is usually too late. If you are someone who falls under any of these categories, be sure to get your eyes checked regularly.
- Have a family history of glaucoma
- Have diabetes
- Are 60 years old or older
If you are diagnosed with early glaucoma, eye drops or pills can help, but the most beneficial treatment is surgery.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in adults. It destroys the macula, the part of the eye that provides the vision needed for seeing objects clearly and sharply. Its main warning signs are blurred vision or blind spots. People who are most likely to be affected by AMD are:
- People over age 75
- Women
- Smokers
- Those with a family history of the disease
- People with high blood cholesterol
Unfortunately, there is no way to fully treat AMD, but medication or laser surgery can slow down the damage and keep it from progressing.
Diabetic Eye Disease
Lastly, diabetic eye disease is a group of eye conditions that those with diabetes can develop. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, have an eye exam immediately and once a year thereafter. You can preserve your sight by detecting this disease early.
Sources:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3660543/ns/today-today_health/t/senior-eye-care/
http://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/eye-health-101
http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.asp#1
Melanie Marzillo
Research & Community Education
