Learn How to Improve Your Eye Health
People typically make New Year’s resolutions to go to the gym or start a new diet, but why don’t more of us resolve to improve our eye health? We use our eyes every day—and good eye health habits are essential for establishing a lifetime of healthy vision. We’re on a mission to simplify eye care. So, the Visionworks team is dedicated to helping you improve your eye health. We’re sharing three impactful areas to focus on and tips to improve your eyesight with nutrient-packed foods, eye protection and routine vision care. Make a New Year’s resolution that counts by prioritizing your eye health! We’ll have your back every step of the way.
Why is Eye Health So Important?
Why is it so important to monitor and protect our eye health? While we might take them for granted sometimes, we use our eyes every day. Our eyes help us navigate and see the world’s beauty. So, it is imperative to take good care of them. A critical component of eye health includes monitoring vision changes. According to the Vision Council, about 204.1 million U.S. adults (79 percent) use a form of vision correction— including eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, reading glasses and contact lenses. However, some people—especially children—do not recognize they need glasses. Some people think they can see clearly, but then they get vision correction for the first time and see the world in a whole new way. Vision correction is just one reason to schedule your annual eye exam. However, eye health involves much more than glasses and contacts.
Eye exams go beyond vision correction to detect eye diseases and help you maintain overall health as you age. For example, your eye doctor can detect systemic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol through an eye exam—because these show up first in tiny blood vessels like those in the eye. So, even those who don’t require vision correction should have their eyes checked by an eye doctor every year. The CDC estimates around 93 million adults in the United States are at high risk for vision loss, but only half of those have visited an eye doctor in the last year. You might be at risk for eye disease or have undetected vision problems even if the issue does not seem apparent. This year, resolve to visit an eye doctor and get help making a plan for maintaining and even improving your eye health.
Learn How to Improve your Eye Health in 3 Impactful Ways
Eat for Whole-body Health
The foods we eat affect our entire body, including our eyes. Certain foods are linked to an increased risk of eye health problems. For example, fried foods have been shown to increase the risk of macular degeneration, sugary treats can lead to diabetic retinopathy and high-sodium foods can contribute to high blood pressure, which affects the retina and can damage vision. Happily, there are plenty of foods that are good for eye health. Vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene and vitamin A, which help support retinal health. Fish containing omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the risk of glaucoma and even prevent dry eyes. Leafy greens packed with vitamins C and E help reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts. Keep this in mind: foods that are good for your heart are also good for your eyes!
Prioritize Protecting Your Eyes
Are you protecting your eyes? You may already be taking protective measures without even realizing it. However, it’s important to know the facts about protection your eyes need every day. Here are our top recommendations to keep in mind:
Blue Light Filtering Glasses
If you spend most of your day working from a computer or phone, consider investing in blue light filtering glasses, which reduce blue light exposure by 45%. Prolonged blue light exposure can contribute to digital eye strain, resulting in headaches, fatigue and eye irritation.
Sunglasses
You may already be wearing sunglasses when you go for a hike or trip to the beach. However, are you wearing sunglasses every day—even in the winter? Even on cloudy days, our eyes are exposed to harmful UV rays. Make sure to protect your eyes every time you go outside. Additionally, sunglasses help block irritants like pollution, allergens and wind.
Safety Glasses
Some jobs require exposure to substances that could damage the eyes, like debris, dust and chemicals. If you’re working in a field that poses risks to your eyes, invest in a quality pair of safety glasses. Visionworks Associates are happy to help you select safety glasses tailored to your work requirements.
Look for the Best Eye Care
The best way to improve your eye health is to schedule an annual eye exam—even if you don’t notice any reduction in visual acuity or experience other issues. At a yearly eye exam, your doctor checks for vision changes and signs of eye disease or general health concerns. At Visionworks, we make it easy to schedule an appointment online at a location near you. Our eye doctors are equipped with cutting-edge technology and non-invasive methods, such as digital retinal imaging, so your eye exam is stress free and invaluable for optimal health. We encourage you to ask questions during your eye exam so you can feel confident about your eye health and care. Our store Associates love to help find the ideal pair of frames to bring out your unique style. Remember, being proactive about your eye health by scheduling your routine eye exam is a great way to improve your eye health and prevent serious issues down the line.
Visit Your Local Visionworks Today
We’re on a mission to simplify eye care. Take an important step in your eye health journey now and receive the expert care needed to improve your eye health. You will be amazed to see how easy it is to schedule your eye exam online or visit a location near you today. Our eyes do so much for us, so resolve to give them some well-deserved and much-needed TLC.
Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
