Changes in our eyesight and overall vision are common as we get older, such as the development of age-related farsightedness or a longer adjustment time to changing light levels.
While you can easily correct most of these issues with glasses or contacts, you should maintain good eye health in your senior years to avoid developing more severe conditions. This article will look at some eye health tips for seniors to help keep their vision sharp.
Have A Healthy Diet
You’ll need nutrients and macronutrients for cellular regeneration, tissue health maintenance, and disease prevention for your overall health and your eyes.
The best way you’ll be able to obtain these nutrients is with a varied and healthy diet. A diet rich in leafy greens, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables provides all the necessary nutrients to keep your eyes in good condition.
Reduce Exposure To Direct Sunlight
While Vitamin D is essential to a healthy body, direct exposure to sunlight can harm and permanently damage your eyes, resulting in a loss of vision.
If you find yourself outdoors quite often, consider bringing a pair of sunglasses to reduce the amount of direct sunlight exposure to your eyes. If you wear prescription glasses, consider wearing prescription sunglasses to protect your eyes.
Wear Your Prescription Glasses
When you’re not wearing your prescription glasses or contacts, your eyes must work harder to focus on what you’re looking at. This extra strain on your eyes can tire them out and lead to further vision problems.
As such, be sure to wear your prescription eyewear both in and out of the sun. They not only help you to see better, but they also significantly reduce eye strain.
Keep Up With Regular Exercise
Regular exercise provides our eyes with the necessary blood circulation and oxygen intake. Exercise also helps us maintain a healthy weight, which reduces our risk of developing diabetes-related blindness.
As you get older, any type of exercise is beneficial. It doesn’t have to be difficult, so don’t be afraid to incorporate walking, yoga, and other gentler forms of exercise. When participating in sports and recreation, remember to wear sun protection and protective eyewear outdoors.
Have A Good Sleeping Pattern
Having a good sleep pattern is one of the most important things for seniors when it comes to eye health. Getting enough restful sleep helps reduce fatigue and stress, which can have a negative impact on vision. Seniors should aim for seven or eight hours of sleep each night in order to keep their eyes healthy and functioning properly.
Have Regular Optometrist Check-ups
An annual eye exam is one of the best ways to stay on top of your eye health. You won’t always be aware if something is wrong, but you have a much better chance of detecting potential eye problems during your annual optometrist visit. Cataracts, macular degeneration, and other degenerative eye diseases can all be detected by your optometrist.
Furthermore, many people are unaware that an eye exam can detect the onset of other general health issues like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. By tackling these general health issues early, you’ll be able to better care for your overall health and eyesight simultaneously.
All adults with healthy eyes should have annual eye exams. If you have an eye condition that needs to be monitored, you may need to schedule more frequent visits with your optometrist.
Use Adequate Indoor Lighting
Most eye strain is caused by reading or viewing a screen in low light levels, which can lead to future eye problems. If you regularly read or use digital devices frequently, keep your room well-lit to help your eyes focus and reduce eye strain.
Take Regular Eye Breaks
If you spend considerable time focusing in front of a screen or a series of documents, be sure to take adequate breaks to prevent eye strain. A regular 20 – 30 second break every 20 minutes will give your eyes enough time to relax and reduce any build-up of eye strain you may have.
Book A General Health Appointment With Coolaroo Clinic
At Coolaroo Clinic, our experienced team of medical professionals is always happy to help maintain your eyesight. Get in touch and book an appointment with one of our doctors today.