IF YOU WANT TO GET the longest life and greatest amount of mileage out of a new car, it’s a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s recommended schedule of preventive maintenance. By routinely servicing your new vehicle, you can catch small problems early and prevent them from turning into big problems that leave you stranded at the side of the road.
The same logic can be applied to the health of your eyes. Practice a little “preventive eye maintenance”—i.e., adopt an eye-friendly lifestyle and take measures to detect and treat problems early—and these all-important organs will reward you with clear, focused vision far into your future.
Get your leafy greens
Though we tend to think of carrots as the most eye-friendly veggie (and, indeed, carrots are rich in vitamin A, which promotes retinal health), studies show that leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, collard greens, and mustard greens, are vital for healthy eyes, as well. These veggies are rich in lutein, an antioxidant carotenoid that can help fight macular degeneration.
Wear shades
Those wayfarers or aviators won’t just make you look cool, but they’ll also block the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which can cause a condition called photokeratitis—essentially a sunburn on the eye—as well as contribute to macular degeneration and cataract development. Be sure to choose a pair that offers 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. And remember, sunglasses aren’t just for summer wear. You should put them on year-round whenever you spend time outdoors, even on cloudy days. Also, keep in mind that sunglasses are especially critical when you’re in a high-glare environment, such as when you’re on or near the water or in a snowy landscape.
Don’t spare the protective eyewear
In the workplace, the use of protective eyewear is mandated for certain activities. But, when we’re working on projects at home, we tend to get a bit more lackadaisical about the risk of eye injury. Any time you’re tackling a chore that has the potential to produce dust or flying debris—for example, when cutting the grass or even driving a nail—it’s imperative to wear eye protection. Inexpensive, transparent safety glasses are available at any hardware or home-improvement store. This minimal investment can literally save your eyesight.
Take proper care of contacts
If you wear contact lenses, be sure to follow your eye doctor’s recommendations when it comes to the length of time they should be worn and the appropriate method for cleaning and storing them. If you experience irritation or redness with contact wear, see your eye doctor promptly. It’s also recommended to keep a pair of glasses with a current prescription on hand in case your eyes become irritated and you need to wear them temporarily. Also, never wet your contact lenses in your mouth. This practice, while sometimes convenient, is just begging for an eye infection.
Kick butt!
In addition to causing or contributing to a whole host of other health issues, smoking damages the optic nerve and increases the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Yet another reason to make 2022 the year you kick the habit!
Get regular eye exams
Last but certainly not least, you should see your eye doctor regularly. Don’t wait until problems develop to schedule an appointment. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), kids should undergo a comprehensive eye exam between the ages of six and 12 months of age, at least once between the ages of three and five, before first grade, and then annually thereafter.
Adults should have their eyes examined at least every two years, but those who wear corrective lenses need to get checked annually. Because the risk of eye disease increases with age—and because diseases caught early are usually more treatable—those age 65 and over should undergo an eye exam at least annually.
Of course, these AOA recommendations are just general guidelines that apply to asymptomatic people of average risk. Your eye doctor may deem it necessary to see you more or less frequently depending on the state of your eye health. However, by taking the proactive steps listed above rather than merely reacting to problems, you will increase your odds of having excellent eye health well into the foreseeable future.
