Take Care of Your Aging Eyes
When you age, so do your aging eyes. Get them checked yearly – usually prescriptions don’t change a lot, unless you do things to strain your eyes to weaken them or strengthen them. My eye doctor told me about the below eye issues on a recent yearly check-up.
There are other eye issues that can build up. Your aging eyes may be drier, but you can get products to help moisten them or unplug tear ducts or other potential issues. Often the eye doctor office has eye care products for less than another store, but you can check for best price on lubricating drops for the eyes. Drink a lot of water and keep your eyes moistened (artificial tears, or cold wet teabags or even cucumber slices on the eyelids).
Macular degeneration may slowly obscure your vision by causing blocked or blurry vision. It can happen as we age. To try to prevent macular degeneration, exercise, eat healthy (check out the other blog entries), and quit smoking.
Cataracts can form on aging eyes – but may grow faster if you aren’t protecting your eyes from the sun. Years of shunning sunglasses can add to the aging eyes factor. Wear good sunglasses any time you are out in the sun. It can slow down cataract growth. When cataracts take over your eyes, you won’t see well at all. Then you will be discussing cataracts surgery. I’m told it’s much safer now, and the lens that replaces the blocked one with cataracts can be fine-tuned to a better eyesight prescription. The need for glasses may be lessened or be done away with or only needing reading glasses. So – wear sunglasses to keep from needing such a surgery for a long time. It’s still a surgery so there is always a risk.
Vitamins and supplements that are good for the eyes include Vitamin A, Vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B9 and B12 (or just get a good B-complex vitamin). Supplements include lutein, zeaxanthin, omega 3 fatty acids, zinc, copper, beta-carotene, selenium, and alpha-lipoic acid.
There are recommended tests the eye doctor will want to run to look for eye issues. Let them check everything as they feel is appropriate, especially if it has been a while since last checked. Many eye issues can be found and addressed.
Make sure to get plenty of red, yellow and orange foods and juices. Carrots, guava, papaya, grapes, cherries, oranges, red grapes, mango, peaches, tomatoes and such. These have good, optimal nutrients for the eyes. My eye doctor tested me for the concentration of carotenoids, and I was lower than they liked (I had just returned from a vacation where I ate mostly root vegetables and not a lot of beets or carrots). I have been eating and drinking more of such.
Eat a good, balanced diet so your aging eyes will benefit.
Don’t look closely at your phone – keep it some distance away as far as you can.
Wear sunglasses when outside. Protect them from the sun. The sun can cause retina damage and cataracts to form.
Get yearly check-ups with an eye doctor.
Get up from your computer or other media every so often to give your eyes a break.
Take care of your eyes to prevent issues that would need surgery or cause blindness or blind spots.
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