“Take care of your eyes as you age” is probably the most common piece of advice given by every eye doctor, and is one that everyone should heed. In today’s post, Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic shares tops on taking care of aging eyes.
While there is no miracle food that can restore aging eyes, adding certain foods to your diet can help reduce the risks of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other aging-related eye problems. Incorporate foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, such as dark green leafy vegetables, as well as broccoli, tangerines, and persimmons. Antioxidants can likewise reduce aging-related eye problems. Vitamin E and Omega-3 fatty acids are known antioxidants, and can be found in vegetable oils, nuts, and cold-water fish like tuna and salmon.
Ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause damage to the eyes, even if you don’t look directly at the sun. Make sure you are wearing sunglasses when going out, particularly when it’s sunny and the ground is covered in snow, as the white surfaces can reflect sunlight. Buy sunglasses from your eye doctor and avoid off-the-rack sunglasses — you need sunglasses that have UV filters to protect your eyes, and you can have prescription lenses made if needed.
With devices becoming so ubiquitous these days. Aging eyes are more susceptible to eye strain, which is why you should make it a point to rest your eyes as often as possible. A good way to reduce eye strain is by following the “20-20-20 rule”: for every 20 minutes of staring at a screen, look at an object that’s about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Make it a point to visit your eye doctor at least once a year. It will help your eye doctor find out if you’re developing early signs of eye problems, and prepare a treatment plan. The earlier such problems are caught, the better your eye health can be maintained.
Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic is your leading provider of eye care services. Give us a call at (425) 771-8472. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Redmond and Kirkland, WA, and the surrounding communities.