Getting older is a normal part of life, but vision loss most certainly is not — so says National Eye Institute director Dr. Paul A. Sieving, reported KXO Radio.
Offering up some advice to those interested in keeping their eyes healthy over the long-term period, Dr. Sieving said in the article that timely diagnosis, speedy treatment and proper follow-up can safeguard against vision loss stemming from conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
In the article, Dr. Sieving provided the following suggestions in a bid to help people keep their eyes in good shape no matter what their age:
- People need to find out whether or not eye disease is something that is part of their family history. If they discover that a relative has eye disease, they should consult their eye doctor to find out what they can done to keep their eyes functioning properly.
- People need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Those who consume foods that contain lots of omega-3 fatty acids — which can be found in fish — and vitamins C and A — which can be found in produce such as leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits — can help to protect their eyes.
- People need to learn to give their eyes a break now and again. According to Dr. Sieving, those who have an occupation that requires sitting in front of a computer for long stretches of the day should follow the 20/20/20 rule. He explained that people should, ever 20 minutes, focus their eyes approximately 20 feet in front of them for a period of 20 seconds. This, said Dr. Sieving, will help to lessen fatigue and eyestrain.
- People need to be careful when it comes to selecting sunglasses. When out looking for the perfect pair, people should narrow their selection to sunglasses that block out at least 99% of UV-B and UV-A radiation. Anything less will not provide adequate protection.
Dr. Sieving said in the article that early phases of eye conditions generally do not come with obvious symptoms. What this means is that people need to go to their eye care specialist for a complete dilated eye test.
Reference: http://kxoradio.com/news/health/3433-tips-on-making-healthy-vision-last-a-lifetime.html
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