TOP FIVE EYE TIPS FOR HEALTHY VISION

Imagine how life would be if you couldn't see well. Reading the Sunday paper or curling up with your favorite book would be difficult. You couldn't enjoy a movie or your favorite weeknight sitcom. It would even be hard ot focus on the faces of loved ones.

According to the American Optometric Association, one in four Americans ages 40 years or older suffer from some level of vision loss, and 43 million suffer from age-related macular degeneration or cataracts - the two leading causes of vision loss and blindness.

Unfortunately, most people won't seek eye care until they suffer a problem. However, eye health - like dental health - requires routine exams. It is much healthier to discover a slight vision problem during an eye exam then to wait until vision impairment affects your everyday life.

In addition to diagnosing vision impairment, eye checks can also reveal a lot about a person's general state of health. For example, diabetes is very often first discovered with an eye exam. Other diseases, like glaucoma, a disease of the eye that causes vision loss and ccan gradually lead to blindness, can be quickly detected and treated.

While the most common cause of diminished vision is the aging of they eye, other causes may include hereditary factors; long-term unprotected exposure to UV radiation; previous eye surgery; medical problems, such as diabetes and arthritis; and medication side effects, from such medications as steroids.

The following are general recommendations for long-term eye health:

1. After 40 years of age, get an eye exam every two to three years. After the ageof 60 years, have an eye exam annually.

2. Protect eyes from UV exposure by wearing sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of UV ratiation. Most retail stores that sell eyeglasses have instruments that can measure how much UV radiation is blocked by sunglasses. Avoid sunglasses that only offer dark lenses, but do not provide proper UV protection. Dark lenses dilate the pupil, allowing more UV radiation to get into the eye and causing more eye damage, like cataract formation and macular degeneration.

3. Address other health problems, especially diabetes and arthritis, which can affect eye health.

4. Maintain a nutritious diet. Research shows that eating foods rich in antioxidants, lutein, essential fatty acids, Vitamins C and E and the mineral zinc can help protect your vision.

5. When vision becomes limited or affects daily actibities, such as working, reading or driving, seek medical attention from an ophthalmologist. A complete eye exam can rule out any other condition that may be causing blurred vision or eye problems and an ophthalmologist can provide a treatment plan to preserve long-term eyesight.

source: http://www.santanvalleytoday.com/