Keeping your eyes healthy now can prevent future eye problems, including vision loss. It is important to know your family health history, but there are other preventive measures you can take to keep your eyes healthy.
1. Regular Optometrist Visits
An important part of your annual visit to the optometrist is relaying your family’s eye health history. Does Uncle Joe have glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetes? These conditions can be hereditary. Annual eye examinations not only reveal whether you need eyeglasses, they tell you what conditions you might be susceptible to.
2. Special Eye Care for Sun and Sports
If you want to keep your eyes healthy, you need to protect them. That means protecting your eyes by wearing sunglasses that block harmful UV rays anytime your eyes are exposed to the sun, and protective eyewear when you engage in potentially dangerous sports activities.
3. Eat Right
Our optometrist can educate you about a proper eye health diet that includes leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach, blueberries, carrots, and omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon and tuna to keep your eyes healthy.
4. Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep not only reduces lines and bags around your eyes, it helps your eyes stay healthy. Over time, your eyes become fatigued. Eye muscles can get overworked causing eyestrain and headaches. Your eyes need a vacation from work just as much as you do. Be sure to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night so your eyes feel rested.
5. Take a Break From Computer Screens
Optometrists suggest you follow the 20-20-20 rule when it comes to eye health. Although your job may require you to view a computer screen all day, you should take a 20-minute break every 20 minutes to focus your line of sight 20 feet ahead of your screen. This reduces eyestrain and helps maintain your eye health. Try it!
Our optometrist serves the neighborhoods in and near Manhattan and Washington Heights. Contact us today to learn more about keeping your eyes healthy and preventing vision loss.