10 Essential Tips to Stay in Control of Your Eye Health as You Age

September is designated as Healthy Aging Month!

As we age, the risk for eye diseases and other medical conditions may increase, making it vital to take extra care of our health and vision. To raise awareness to the importance of strong health as we age, September has become National Healthy Aging Month.

To do our part, here are 10 essential tips from the Hawaiian Eye Center on how you can stay in control of your eye health as you age:

• Schedule regular eye exams annually
This is the easiest and most effective step you can take as you age to prevent vision loss and maintain good eye health! An ophthalmologist can diagnose eye diseases and instruct a treatment plan. Make sure you maintain annual or bi-annual eye exams to prevent any severe damage or irreversible vision loss.

• Keep your ophthalmologist informed on all medical changes and conditions
It is important for doctors to know health conditions or syptoms, any use of medications and nutritional supplements, as well as your exercise, eating, sleeping and other lifestyle choices so that they may be care for you and accurate diagnose vision and health problems.

• Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet and take multivitamins/essential supplements as needed
Giving your body the right nutrients it needs can improve the metabolism in your retina and lower the risk of severe eye problems and diseases. Foods that promote strong eye health include leafy greens, carrots, salmon, nuts, citrus, and more. We also suggest avoid large intakes of simple carbohydrates, such as white bread and pasta, as well as sugar, as they have been linked to a higher chance of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and vision loss.

• Take multivitamins/essential supplements as needed
Deficiencies in vitamins B2, B3, B6, and B12 are all associated with eye infections, eye diseases, deterioration in eye tissue, and possible vision loss. Make sure you are getting these vitamins along with others to ensure strong eye health. This should be through both diet and added vitamins or supplements as needed.

• Maintain regular exercise and keep your weight steady
Exercise increases the flow of blood and oxygen to your optic nerves and retina and is especially important for those with underlying health conditions such as glaucoma. Regular exercise also helps keep our weight in the normal range, which reduces the risk of diabetes and of diabetic retinopathy which can affect your eyesight.

• Stay hydrated and maintain a daily quota of water
Our eyes are surrounded by fluid and staying hydrated is your body’s way of maintaining a healthy balance of fluid in the eye. Without adequate moisture your eyes can become dry and your tear films can become deficient, which results in irritation and blurry vision, and increases your chance of an eye infection.

• Get a well-rested night’s sleep
When we sleep, our bodies go to work repairing cells in our eyes for better vision quality. Our eyes also enjoy continuous lubrication, allowing them to clear out irritants such as dust, allergens, or smoke that may have accumulated during the day.

• Wear protective gear and the proper eye wear while outside
Prolonged UV exposure can cause cataracts, corneal sunburn, macular degeneration, pterygium, and skin cancer around the eyelids. This damage is oftentimes irreversible but can be easily prevented by wearing proper eyewear such as sunglasses and wide brimmed hats that can block out the sun’s harmful rays.

• Refrain from or quit smoking
Smoking increases your chances of macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye diseases that can affect your vision. According to the CDC, you are 2x more likely to develop AMD compared with people who do not smoke, and 2-3x times more likely to develop cataracts compared with people who do not smoke.

• Know your family’s eye health history

This information allows you to take the proper precautions in preventing eye threatening diseases that you and your family may be prone to.

By being proactive with your eye health, you can prevent countless vision problems and enjoy a long future of strong vision. As Dr. Steven Rhee, Medical Director at Hawaiian Eye Center, closes “Ideally, aging should be a time for us to celebrate life and look forward to the positive aspects of growing older. This is why it is important to take care of physical and mental health and maintain a healthy lifestyle as we age.”