Eye Health Awareness:
National Eye Institute · Prevent Blindness.org
Eye Health Tips · New Jersey Eye Doctors
The National Eye Institute (nei.nih.gov) and PreventBlindness.org remind you to make your eye health a priority. You may be busy, being on the go or caring for your family, but it is important that you make the time to take care of you!
Women are more likely to have eye-related diseases and conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Nearly two-thirds of blindness and visual impairment occurs in women, and women make up the majority of the 4.4 million Americans age 40 and older who are blind or visually impaired.
We encourage you to take these five simple but important steps to protect your sight, keep your eyes healthy and prevent vision loss and blindness from eye disease:
Get a dilated eye exam. Getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the best way to know if your eyes are healthy and you are seeing your best. Talk to your eye care professional about how often you should have one.
Live a healthy lifestyle. Healthy foods, maintaining a healthy weight, managing chronic conditions, and not smoking can lower your risk of eye disease. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too. There are eye also health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.
Know your family eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease, since many diseases are hereditary. This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease yourself.
Use protective eyewear when doing chores, playing sports, or on the job. This includes wearing safety glasses, goggles, safety shields, and eye guards that are made of polycarbonate. Eyewear should sit comfortably on the face, so talk to your eye care provider about the appropriate type of protective eyewear for your sport or job. Make a habit of wearing the appropriate type at all times, and encourage your teammates and coworkers to do the same.
Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can increase your risk for getting an eye disease like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration. A wide-brimmed hat offers great protection, too!
We encourage you to take these five simple but important steps to protect your sight, keep your eyes healthy and prevent vision loss and blindness from eye disease.