Keeping Your Eyes Healthy as You Age

10 steps for Healthy Eyes during September’s Healthy Aging Month

An estimated one in six Americans over 65 years old struggle with eye problems that cannot be corrected with glasses or contacts. Aging also presents other health challenges

For September’s Healthy Aging Month, Hawaiian Eye Center wants to share 8 ways to stay healthy and prioritize your eyes:

Physical activity: Experts recommend a minimum of 150 minutes per week of mild to moderate physical activity. 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.

Healthy eating: A healthy diet can lower the risk of severe eye problems and diseases. Foods that promote strong eye health include leafy greens, carrots, salmon, nuts, citrus, and more. Simple carbohydrates, such as white bread and pasta, as well as sugar, should be eaten in moderation, as they have been linked to a higher chance of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and vision loss.

Regular checkups and exams: This is the easiest and most effective step you can take to prevent vision loss and maintain good eye health! An ophthalmologist can diagnose eye diseases and instruct a treatment plan. Maintaining annual or bi-annual eye exams can prevent any severe damage or irreversible vision loss.

Getting enough 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.

Stay hydrated: 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.

Wear protective and proper eye wear: 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.  

Take multivitamins/essential supplements: 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 through both diet and added vitamins or supplements as needed.

Ditch the unhealthy habits, like smoking and vaping: Smoking increases your chances of macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye diseases. Those who smoke 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.

“Hawaiian Eye Center is here to help with check-ups, exams, and eyewear, but the everyday choices you make – from diet and exercise, to sleep and sun protection — can make all the difference in maintaining and protecting your eye health, vision quality, and vitality,” says Dr. Steven Rhee of Hawaiian Eye Center.

Incorporating these tips into your daily routine and maintaining comprehensive eye exams can keep your vision clear and protected. To learn more or to schedule an appointment visit: www.hawaiianeye.com.