eye health Archives

This is the 2nd part in the series “How to Keep Excellent Eyesight: 15 Ways to Prevent Blindness.” In a world where the cost of healthcare continues to rise and getting health care is more and more complicated the best thing we can do is prevent health problems from coming.

The cynic can always find a loophole or a reason why personal efforts are not worth the effort.

However, I am and will remain a huge believer in preventative medicine. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment. Enjoy.

8. Be aware of the effects of diabetes on the eyes.

When not managed, diabetes is dangerous for eye health. Out of control sugar levels wreak havoc on the eyes, leading to diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in the USA today.

And it is preventable.

Be proactive in keeping blood sugars under control, enjoy a healthy diet and maintain a regular relationship with the optometrist to diabetic retinopathy.

There is constant research being done to help us understand these diseases better and find cures.

Hope for diabetic eye disease cure may be on its way. The University of Michigan Kellog Eye Center has identified a specific protein that regulates the leaky blood vessels which cause the vision impairment in diabetic eye disease. Researchers believe they have found a way to block the damage done, preventing the vessels from leaking and stopping the vision problems. “We still have a long way to go…but the results are very promising,” one of the lead authors stated.

9. Taking care of your eyes helps decrease your chance of falling and hip problems.

Fix your cataracts and avoid hip surgery?

Yes, according to researchers there is a big connection between eyesight and how well we live, especially as we get older.

Having cataracts removed may decrease your risk of hip surgery. Victoria Tseng from Brown University, Rhode Island, states that people with better vision decrease their risk of falls at significant levels. She and her colleagues state they found that cataracts are “one of the most common causes of fracture-related visual impairment.”

10. Decrease or stop smoking.

Smoking is hard to quit but the positive influence on your health is magnanimous.

Smoking affects many parts of our bodies and our eyes are not immune.

Researchers from China concluded an extensive study showing the correlation between smoking and different kinds of cataracts.

Age-related cataracts are the most common kind that comes from smoking (that scientists can tell). While cataract removal remains one of the most successful surgeries in the Western World, there is a notable cost attached that some people cannot afford. Preventing cataracts in the first place by not smoking is important for quality life and vision at all stages of life.

11. Avoid Computer Vision Syndrome.

If we have poor posture at our work desks, not sitting close enough OR too close to the computer screen, our eyes work harder to make up for the difference. Computer vision syndrome can result in eye weariness, headaches, red eyes, dry eyes and changes in vision.

To avoid computer vision syndrome, do the following:

Make sure you are seated correctly at your work station, approximately two feet away from the screen. Feet should be flat on the floor. Eyes should focus straight with shoulders back and neck in a upright position. For more information on computer vision syndrome, check out http://allaboutvision.com/cvs

12. Protect the eyes from the harmful UV rays of the sun.

The harmful UV rays of the sun don’t only burn our skin. Exposure to the harmful UV rays can lead to burning around the eyes, increased risk of cataract development and other eye problems. Protect your eyes with UV protective sunglasses.

13. Some of the most successful operations in the United States are for the eyes, helping many people return to a high quality life.

Cataract surgery remains one of the most successful elective surgeries in the United States.

In the past advanced cataracts would interfere with vision and quality of life. Today, there are easily removed and individuals continue on with hardly a break in their routine.

Add in the advances of Lasik and Orthkeratoloy procedures and more adults are enjoying better vision today than ever before.

14. Indulge in fish and lean meats.

Eating fish and lean meat can help protect the eyes. Salmon and other fish are filled with the healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Multiple studies show how omega-3 fatty acids can directly protect the eye from wear and tear.

15. Keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.

We are holistic beings. Our different body systems affect one another. If a body system is not functioning properly, it has the potential to infect other parts.

High blood pressure will cause problems for every part of the body because each organ needs the life giving nutrients and oxygen the circulatory system brings. High blood pressure is nicknamed “the silent killer” because the effects of unrelenting and uncontrolled high blood pressure are often symptom-less until the damage has been done.

When blood pressure is high, the circulatory system running through the eyes wears down and gets weaker. Optometrists can assess blood pressure when he or she looks into your eyes with their equipment.

Take charge of your blood pressure now and keep your eyes healthy and your vision bright for the future.

Conclusion

Just like having a healthy blood pressure, having good vision has a little bit to do with genetics and physiology. There are some things in life we can’t outrun. Some eye problems, like glaucoma and macular degeneration, have a genetic component that scientists haven’t figured out how to fix.

The good news is that a lot of your vision depends on habits, not genetics.

Even if there are some variables in the genetic pool working against you, we can fight them with today’s excellent technology and scientific knowledge to overcome them.

Blindness is mostly avoidable today.

If we our conscious of our lifestyles and practice preventative healthy only a few people should suffer from blindness in old age from unpreventable factors.

Most people today who will be blind in their later years could have taken steps to stop it from advancing so far. Blindness is becoming an avoidable malady.

Protect yourself. Protect your loved ones. Take care of your eyes.

You can read more of Melissa AuClair’s writing at http://www.launchyourcreativelife.com

Today, the World Health Organization estimates that 75% of blindness is preventable.

Yet the number of people who will experience severe eye diseases leading to blindness- diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and glaucoma- continues to rise.

You and I don’t have to be one of the people who suffers from preventable blindness.

By incorporating proactive action steps into the daily life, we can enjoy excellent eyesight to the end of life.

The eyes are the only muscle we have that gets weaker with more use. Some vision loss is normal and hard to prevent. However, severe vision loss leading to blindness does not have to be an outcome for most people living in the United States today if you follow essential actions.

This article will look at how each of us can achieve excellent eyesight for life.

Here is Part 1 of 15 Actions to enjoy good eyesight for life.

1. Keep your appointments with the optometrist.

This is one of the most proactive steps you can take to prevent blindness. Optometrists have diagnostic equipment that can see problems coming “down the pipes” of the eyes before the symptoms ever show.

Optometrists can see if diabetes is causing wear and tear on your retina or whether your eyes are showing signs of developing glaucoma. Once the symptoms of these diseases show up, treatment is limited.

Early detection changes this. Early detection allows doctors to watch, treat and prevent potential eye problems from developing into severe problems.

For people under forty, the American Optometry Association recommends a checkup every three years. People over 40 should see their optometrist every two years unless recommended otherwise by their doctor.

2. Eat fruits and vegetables – lots of ‘em.

Logically we know we need to eat more fruits and vegetables but we don’t do it.

It cannot be overemphasized that the benefit of a diet high in vegetables and fruits on our health is astonishing.

The more colorful the fruit or vegetable, the better it is for your eyes! Red and yellow peppers, carrots, pumpkin, spinach and berries are full of antioxidants and nutrients that will help you feel better and see better.

3. Avoid tired looking eyes by adding the right eye-friendly supplements. (And enjoy healthier eyes too!)

What you eat may help your eyes perk up in their appearance. Foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin have been shown to boost eye health by strengthening the retina. Look for green leafy vegetables; they are naturally high in lutein and zeaxanthin.

4. Know the signs of unhealthy eyes!

When something is not normal, such as a discoloration of the eye, check in with the optometrist. For example, yellow eyes are not normal. If you or a loved one has yellow-colored eyes, you need to see your optometrist or doctor right away. The body usually gives us clues when something goes awry- when the “whites” of the eyes change to a yellow, it signals a potential problem that needs to be addressed.

5. Indulge in unusual vegetables.

Did you know that kale is noted as a great vegetable for vision health? Not only is it high in antioxidants (like its chard, spinach and beet green family members mentioned in the diet section), but it has one of the most concentrated amounts of vitamin A. Just one cup of kale yields an entire day’s worth of needed Vitamin A (481mcg). That is TWICE as vitamin A than other leafy greens, leading to kale being noted as the eye’s favorite vegetable.

6. Don’t ignore unusual vision changes.

Vision changes need to be followed up with your optometrist. Don’t brush off signs or appearances that seem out of place. Your body is trying to tell you something is not right.

7. Are your eyes twitching?

Get rid of twitching eyes! Bothered by painless, but annoying, twitching of one or both eyes? You may need to check your sleep routine or caffeine intake. Too much caffeine, too little sleep or too much stress can cause involuntary twitching in the eyes. If the twitching increases, be sure to see your optometrist- occasionally twitching can be the sign of a more significant problem- dry eyes, pink eye or blepharitis- that requires additional treatment.

8. Be aware of the detrimental effects of diabetes on the eyes.

Diabetes is potentially dangerous for eye health. Out of control sugar levels wreak havoc on the eyes, leading to diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in the US today.

And it is preventable.

Be proactive in keeping blood sugars under control, enjoy a healthy diet and maintain a regular relationship with the optometrist to diabetic retinopathy. There is constant research being done to help us understand these diseases better and find cures.

Melissa AuClair worked as a RN for 8 years in acute care hospitals. The best part of being a nurse is empowering people to care for themselves- and prevent health problems in the future. “It’s so much easier to maintain good health than reverse lifestyle health problems. It takes discipline, but that discipline gives people freedom to live high quality, active lives.” Melissa can be followed on Twitter @Melissauclair She blogs about lifestyle and freelance work at www.launchyourcreativelife.com