“Promoting healthy lifestyles for optimal eye health.”
Our eyes are vital organs that allow us to see the world around us, and protecting them against possible diseases is vital. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, however, is essential for overall well-being and helps to prevent an array of eye conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and pterygium.
Maintaining Good Eye Health
Even if your eyes appear healthy, there may be an underlying disease that you are unaware of. Many of these conditions have no symptoms or warning signs but can be detected early when they are easier to treat with a simple and painless dilated eye examination.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also beneficial to good eye health. It is essential, therefore, to make healthy lifestyle choices such as maintaining a healthy diet. A healthy lifestyle also includes an active lifestyle, which is beneficial in preventing/reducing the chances of developing diseases and disorders that can cause vision impairment. Physical activity also helps to reduce the risk of developing conditions that can lead to vision problems. It is important to consume nutritious foods, including lots of dark, leafy vegetables and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and tuna. These are all beneficial to maintaining good vision. Smoking should be avoided as it isn’t just hazardous to your lungs; it can also affect your eyesight.
Keep your eyes protected.
Simple efforts may be taken daily to maintain healthy eyes. These include wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun. They may be used even on cloudy days as they can filter out 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Exposure to UV rays can contribute to the development of cataracts or age-related macular degeneration, as well as sunburns on your eyes (in extreme cases). Make sure that your sunglasses block 99% of UVA and UVB rays.
Some occupations and sporting activities require the use of protective eyewear, such as safety glasses and goggles. Construction work, such as welding, can be detrimental to one’s vision, so protective eyewear should always be used during this type of work activity and when engaged in home repairs.
Keep Screens at a distance. The glare from screens such as computers may trigger what is known as ‘computer vision’ syndrome, a temporary condition characterised by strain, discomfort, and light sensitivity. Some symptoms include dry, itchy eyes caused by looking at a computer screen for extended periods. It is recommended that your screen be positioned at a distance of at least 20 inches from your eyes.
Rest is also essential for the eyes. Allow your eyes to rest. For example, looking at a computer screen for an extended period could create stress on your eyes. You can rest them by taking a 20-minute break to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly. Everyone, including young children, should have scheduled eye examinations to detect disorders without symptoms, such as glaucoma. It is critical to identify these conditions early when they are easier to cure or treat. This protects your vision and allows you to see your best.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that result in damage to the optic nerve, resulting in visual loss. In the majority of cases, fluid accumulates in the front area of the eye, exerting pressure and progressively damaging the optic nerve. This pressure is referred to as intraocular pressure (IOP) or simply eye pressure. Left untreated, significant eye pressure can permanently impair vision. Glaucoma is treated with eye drops, oral medicine, surgery, or a combination of treatments to reduce eye pressure and avoid permanent vision loss. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy body weight can enhance blood circulation and lower intraocular pressure, a significant risk factor for glaucoma.
While glaucoma cannot be avoided entirely, living a healthy lifestyle can help lower the risk and progression of this disease. Giving up cigarette smoking will also help to reduce glaucoma-related vision loss. A diet abundant in antioxidants – vitamins A, C, E, and omega-3 fatty acids may also protect against glaucoma. The emphasis is on maintaining a well-balanced diet. To avoid blindness, use the eye drops prescribed by your ophthalmologist as instructed and maintain your scheduled checkups. If you have been diagnosed with Glaucoma, adhere to this advice.
Cataract
Cataract refers to the clouding of the eye’s natural lenses and is the leading cause of vision impairment. Most cataracts are age-related, resulting from normal changes in your eyes as you get older. They can also develop as a result of an eye injury or surgery to treat another eye condition. Proteins and fibres in the lens begin to break down and clump together, forming an opacity. This causes vision to become hazy or cloudy.
A healthy lifestyle can help to reduce the progression of cataracts. Wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays and not smoking cigarettes are two important preventative methods.
Eating foods high in antioxidants, such as lutein, carotenoids, selenium, zeaxanthin, and vitamins A, C, and E, can help protect your cells from damage. Even if you have cataracts, these nutrients can help slow their progression. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, oily fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds are all excellent sources of these nutrients.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes that causes vision problems. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is of the utmost importance for people with diabetes to prevent or delay diabetic retinopathy. Controlling blood sugar levels and cholesterol, regular exercise, avoiding smoking cigarettes, and eating a balanced diet will help manage the advancement of this disease or lower the chance of vision loss related to diabetes. Eating fish, lean protein, fruits, and green leafy vegetables will help persons suffering from the disease achieve and maintain a healthy weight and control blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. These measures will reduce the chances of developing retinopathy.
Pterygium
Pterygium is a fleshy growth on the eye’s surface typically caused by extended exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. Wearing sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats to protect the eyes from excessive UV exposure is essential as a preventative measure. Additionally, avoiding excessive eye rubbing and maintaining proper hydration can help reduce the risk of this condition.
A healthy lifestyle is fundamental for maintaining good eye health and preventing eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and pterygium. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, avoiding smoking, and taking UV protection measures can all help to reduce the risk and severity of various eye diseases. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, individuals can protect their vision and enjoy a greater quality of life. As the old saying goes, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’ and the same applies to maintaining healthy eyes.
