Published: 02 May 2018

Did you know May is Healthy Vision month!? What a great reason to share some tips that you can use to help protect one of our most precious senses! 

Get regular comprehensive eye exams.

During a comprehensive eye exam, not only is your vision checked and a prescription for glasses or contact lenses determined, but a thorough check of the health of your eyes is performed. Many common eye diseases have no symptoms until they are late in the process, such as glaucoma, diabetic related eye disease, and macular degeneration.

Know your family’s eye history. 

Many eye conditions can be hereditary. It is important to know if you are at an increased risk for developing some eye diseases. This may prompt your eye doctor to monitor you more frequently, if you are at an increased risk of certain conditions. Let us help keep a closer eye on you!

Eat right for your sight! 

 You may have heard the old adage that carrots are good for your vision, and to some extent this holds true. Overall a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, especially those high in antioxidants like dark berries and leafy greens are essential in supporting the tissue in the eye¹. Omega-3’s have also been shown to help relieve dry eye, as well as provide anti-inflammatory support to ocular tissue.

Don’t Smoke! 

Research has shown that smoking can be particularly detrimental to the eyes. Smoking shows an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, optic nerve disease, which can lead to severe, permanent vision loss.^{2, 3}  

Wear your shades. 

The tissue in and around the eye is very delicate and is susceptible to damage by UV light. Cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygia are all influenced by damaging UV rays. Wearing a good pair of polarized sunglasses with 100% UV-A and UV-B protection can help prevent and/or slow down the progression of these conditions.

ⁱAge-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. The relationship of dietary carotenoid with vitamin A, E, and C intake with age-related macular degeneration in a case-control study. Archives of Ophthalmology; 2007; 125(9): 12251232.

ⁱⁱAge-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. Risk factors associated with age-related nuclear and cortical cataract. Ophthalmology; 2001; 108(8): 14001408.

ⁱⁱⁱU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General. The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General (Washington, D.C., 2004).

Published: 17 April 2018