Keeping Your Aging Eyes Healthy: The Importance of Eye Care
Do you know how important your eye health is? Well, it’s just as important as your overall health. In honor of Healthy Aging Month, we want to spread awareness about aging eyes and what you can do to keep them healthy. As we get older, our vision naturally worsens. On top of that, we are more susceptible to forming different eye diseases. By taking good care of our eyes, we can keep them healthy as we age. We might not be able to prevent most age-related eye issues, but there are many things we can do to keep our eyes as healthy as possible.
See what the EyeCare Associates team in Alabama has to say about what issues come with aging eyes and what you can do to keep your eyes as healthy as possible.
What Issues Come With Aging Eyes?
Cataracts
Cataracts cloud your eye lenses and make it difficult to see clearly. Imagine having a cloud over your eyes; it won’t be easy to see. Cataracts are more common in older adults. They also get worse over time if left untreated. Cataracts affect 24.4 million Americans age 40 and older. Surgery is the only way to remove cataracts entirely.
Dry Eyes
Dry eyes might not seem like a big deal, but they can give you a difficult time. It can cause a lot of discomfort because of the severe irritation. Your eyes might also begin itching or burning or have trouble seeing clearly.
Presbyopia
If you have trouble seeing things up close, then you have presbyopia. All of a sudden, reading things might be more of a challenge. While it’s not ideal to have presbyopia, you shouldn’t fret too much because 83% to 89% of adults in the United States that are 45 or older suffer from it.
Macular Degeneration
The macula is part of the retina you need for central vision, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can cause big problems. AMD can make your vision blurry and unclear, although it won’t make you blind. What makes it so stressful is that you will likely have trouble seeing things up close with this disease.
We want to highlight this eye disease because age-related macular degeneration is the most prevalent type of vision loss for those people 50 and older.
How to Keep Aging Eyes Healthy
What do you need to do to keep your eyes healthy?
UV Ray Protection
All that sun and all that time outside can take a toll on your eyes. When exposed to ultraviolet rays (UV rays), they can do a lot of damage over time. Did you know that UV ray exposure adds up over time? That’s more reason to keep your eyes protected from the harmful rays. Wearing sunglasses that block 100% UVA and UVB rays is the best way to protect yourself from eye damage. Wearing hats with a wide brim or staying in the shade outside are reasonable solutions besides sunglasses.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Your eyes need foods full of antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. Just as they’re good for your overall health, they promote healthy eyes too. Fruit, veggies, leafy greens, fish, nuts, and seeds are all healthy choices. A life full of healthy food (and exercise) is suitable for your entire body and eyes. The earlier you start to focus on your eating habits, the better.
Avoid Dehydration
Water is essential to our bodies. Our bodies and eyes need proper hydration to function properly. Dehydration can cause numerous ailments, and that includes dry eyes. On top of that, other eye ailments can result from dehydration. Drink water regularly, fill your water bottle, and track how much water you drink. It’s easy to forget to drink water, but your eyes will suffer for it.
Go to the Eye Doctor
Scheduling comprehensive eye exams is the best thing you can do for your eventual aging eyes. While it’s never too late to start seeing an eye doctor (because visiting later is better than not visiting an eye doctor at all), the earlier you start attending regular eye exams, the better. If you wait too long to start seeing an eye doctor, then there are numerous eye issues that you might not know about. Eye doctors can see if you have glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and more. If we can catch any concerns in their early stages, we can do more.
Contact EyeCare Associates in Alabama Today
Getting older can be difficult, especially with all of the health issues that might start appearing. With that being said, if you take ownership of your health, there is a lot you can do to stay healthy and avoid issues. Our eyes will age no matter what, but there is a lot we can do to make the aging process a more positive one.
Our team at EyeCare Associates wants to help you plan for your future and aging eyes. No matter where you are in Alabama, quality eye care and comprehensive eye exams are never far away! Call or click today if you want to learn more about Healthy Aging Month and how we’re observing it. Reach out to schedule an appointment at EyeCare Associates!