How to Promote Good Eye Health

Blog Category: Health

Vision impairment and blindness are rising causes of disability for older adults, hindering independence and quality of life. The good news is there are things you can implement every day in your life to prevent eye-related injuries and disease. Read on for tips to promote good eye health and an overall better quality of life.

Be Aware of Aging Eye Health and Diseases

There are many chronic issues you can experience as you get older, so it’s essential to be on the lookout for anything concerning your eyes and seek professional help:

Stop Bad Habits

Smoking affects your lungs, skin, teeth, and nails and increases your chances of getting cataracts, macular degeneration, and damage to your optic nerve. Having a healthy, regular bedtime routine also allows your eyes to rest and improves your focus. Be sure to remove your contacts before bed—sleeping with contacts is a terrible habit to get into, even when you’re very tired!

Eat Well

To keep your eyes healthy, you’ll need to load a better plate with food rich in nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein. Here are some foods that are good for eye health:

  • Almonds
  • Apricots
  • Avocados
  • Beans
  • Bell peppers
  • Broccoli
  • Cantelope
  • Carrots
  • Citrus fruits and juices like oranges
  • Eggs
  • Green leafy vegetables like collards, kale, and spinach
  • Oily fish like halibut, salmon, sardines, trout, and tuna
  • Oysters
  • Peaches
  • Peas
  • Pork
  • Strawberries
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Tomatoes
  • Water to combat dry eye (eight glasses per day)

If you start your journey to eating well, you’ll need to cut out or limit some things to support your progress. Here are some foods to avoid for good eye health:

  • Fats in butter and margarine
  • Fried foods
  • High-fat dairy products
  • Processed meats
  • Red meat

Protective Eyewear for the Day

If you’re having trouble seeing, it’s best to start wearing reading glasses, prescription glasses, or contacts on a more regular basis to prevent accidents and straining your eyes. You might also find you prefer having different eyewear available based on your particular needs for the activity you partake in, such as socializing, reading, and working on the computer. Be sure to keep your glasses up to date based on your needs and free of any smudges, as dirt build-up and scratches will only make your eyes work overtime to see.

Excessive UV exposure increases your chances of getting cataracts or macular degeneration, so wear UVA and UVB ray-blocking sunglasses to help prevent eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or protective goggles if you engage in activities like woodworking that involve hazardous or airborne materials. And if you partake in particular sports like pickleball, be sure to gear up with sports goggles or protective face masks.

Give Your Eyes a Break

It’s wonderful to enjoy reading and keep up with technology to stay sharp and independent, but that’s where there can be too much of a good thing! Looking at screens and tiny words for too long causes blurry vision, dry eyes, eyestrain, headaches, and pain in your neck, back, and shoulders. If you’re going to engage in lengthy reading or screen time, follow these tips:

  • Wear computer or reading glasses for these particular activities.
  • Use artificial tears if your eyes are getting dry.
  • Adjust your screen so your eyes are level with the top of the monitor and your book so your eyes are level with the top edge. This way, your eyes naturally look more downward and won’t have to strain as much.
  • Make sure there is adequate lighting and that you aren’t getting a glare you’ll have to strain to see through. Consider getting an anti-glare screen.
  • Rest your eyes every 20 minutes by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
  • Take a break every couple of hours to switch your eye focus and move around.

Stay Active

Regular exercise promotes healthy blood vessels and decreases your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. There are even specific eye exercises you can do to strengthen your eyes:

  • Blinking your eyes quickly 15 times and then closing your eyes and relaxing for 20 seconds a few times throughout the day to keep the blood pumping.
  • Rotating your eyes back and forth or shifting your focus near and far to get those eye muscles working.
  • Rubbing your palms together and gently placing them over your eyes to warm and relax them.

Keep Clean

You want to avoid touching your face as much as possible, especially since germs cover your hands and rubbing your eyes can cause eye damage or infections. Keep clean by regularly washing hands and even utilizing hand sanitizer when washing isn’t accessible. And if you wear makeup, you must always remember to remove and clean your face before going to bed to lower your risk of eye inflammation or blepharitis.

Visit Your Doctor

Your eye health is an essential part of your healthcare that shouldn’t be neglected as you get older, so be sure to explore the ways you are covered under Medicare or Medicaid. Visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist for routine exams, prescription upgrades, and regular comprehensive eye exams that cover:

  • Eye pressure and optic nerve checks for glaucoma
  • Vision tests for farsightedness, nearsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism
  • External and microscopic exams before and after dilation

At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.