We’re all getting older, and your eyes age with you. While some factors are beyond your control, as a senior, there are multiple steps you can take to proactively care for your eyes and help maintain healthy vision for the rest of your life.
1. Schedule Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that anyone 50 and older have a comprehensive eye exam at least once per year or as recommended. If you’re younger than 50, you’ll need to have an exam every two years and only need to go in for an exam annually if you’re at risk.
Visual acuity is just one aspect of vision and eye health that will be checked during a comprehensive eye exam. Your local optometrist will look for refractive eye errors, common eye diseases, ocular motility and general eye health.
2. Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays
If you spend time outdoors and in the sun, you should always wear UV-protecting sunglasses. Wearing a hat to block some of the sun’s rays is another great option. Protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays is critical for keeping your eyes looking and feeling young.
3. Remain Physically Active
Exercise, even walking regularly, is good for you at any age, but you may not immediately connect it with eye health. Truth is, your eyes need oxygen intake and proper blood circulation to remain healthy, and that requires good overall cardiovascular health. Exercise can also help you stay in a healthy weight range, reducing your risk of diabetes, a known contributor to serious eye problems.
Consult with your doctor to ensure that you’re following an exercise routine that is within your physical ability.
4. Manage Medical Conditions
As you age, the odds increase that you will be affected by some type of medical condition, even if you follow every possible health recommendation. Managing these medical conditions can help you maintain healthy eyes for years to come.
As mentioned above, diabetes is a condition that poses critical risks to eye health. People with diabetes are more prone to retinopathy, macular edema, cataracts and glaucoma.
5. Kick Bad Habits
Some bad habits are worse than others when it comes to eye health, and smoking is near the top of the list. Smoking greatly increases your risk of eye-related issues including cataracts, macular degeneration, uveitis and dry eye syndrome.
Eating healthy, getting more sleep and getting moving are all great ways to further help you maintain healthy vision into your 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond.
If you follow the eye care tips above, you’ll be well on your way to maintaining healthy eyes for the rest of your life. Small, incremental changes can lead to a lifetime of good eye health and vision. And scheduling an eye exam is a great place to start.
To schedule your comprehensive eye exam, contact North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care today at 352-373-4300.