To prevent
Most eye diseases can be prevented by adopting healthy lifestyles. It is therefore important to reduce smoking and alcohol consumption; keep blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Above all, it is essential to keep your weight in the normal range through exercise and a healthy diet in order to prevent obesity and diseases such as diabetes, which can have an impact on eye health.
Here are the nutrients that can promote vision health.
Vitamin A: it is found in green leafy vegetables, spinach, eggs, sweet potatoes, orange-colored vegetables such as carrots and squash. This vitamin promotes the health of the cornea, the front portion of the eye and the retina.
C vitamin: it is found in citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons but also in tomatoes and strawberries. It delays the onset of age-related diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
Vitamin E: found in almonds, avocado and sunflower seeds. It decreases the risk of dry eye and keeps the retina healthy.
Omega 6 and Omega 3: they are mainly contained in freshwater fish. It decreases the risk of dry eye and protects the retina
Lutein and Zeaxanthin: found in dark green leafy vegetables such as broccoli. They delay the onset of age-related diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
Zinc: it is found in legumes and protects the retina
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To protect
Leading a healthy lifestyle can help prevent various eye diseases, but protecting and caring for your eyes is just as important. The risk ranges from intense sunlight, workplace accidents to prolonged exposure to device screens. Here’s how to protect your eyes.
The protection of the glasses
It is important to protect our eyes from harmful radiation such as ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun. Using good quality sunglasses is the simplest step we can take to protect our eyes from such harmful radiation when we leave the house. If for work reasons you are exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as radiation, flying particles and excessive heat, you should use protective eyewear as recommended by professional guidelines.
Clean your eyes well
It is essential to maintain a good care and cleaning regimen when using eye makeup and cosmetics as they can induce problems such as dry eye surface and allergic reactions. Proper use of cosmetics is recommended in consultation with your eye doctor.
Avoid digital fatigue
Now that the use of electronic devices has become an integral part of all our lives, it is important to reduce the time spent in front of the screen and take regular breaks to avoid symptoms such as eyestrain, headaches, dry eyes and musculoskeletal problems, which they fall under what is called machine vision syndrome or digital eye fatigue.
To minimize symptoms and work efficiently, it is important to ensure constant blinking, regular breaks (20-20-20 rule), good posture, optimal lighting to reduce glare on the monitor and optimize the work environment to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms. The 20-20-20 rule is a good and efficient model to help your eyes not get tired: every 20 minutes spent using a screen, you have to look away at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Preserve your sight
It is important to plan and undergo a complete and regular eye examination so that the ophthalmologist can have your detailed medical history as well as family history to understand your risk factors and prescribe any diagnostic tests or treatments if necessary.
Priority for eye health
Eye exams must be part of the routine medical examination. We must give priority to eye health and consider the motto “Love your eyes” as a life mission, also educating the family and the community on the importance of eyes and sight.
When to do eye tests
We should all have an eye exam once every two years. In the case of an eye disease that has already been diagnosed, it is important to respect the periodic check-ups table established by the ophthalmologist.
An annual eye checkup should be scheduled if:
– you are 40 or older
– you have a family history of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye or any complication that threatens your sight)
– you have diabetes or hypertension
– has been smoking for many years
– you are already wearing glasses and you have high myopia
– Some warning signs that would require an emergency eye exam include (but are not limited to) seeing flashes of light, sudden blurring or loss of vision, redness, pain in the eyes, seeing colored rings around the light.
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