How to Keep Your Eyes Healthy As You Age

Aging affects the whole body, from your bones to your organs, and introduces a host of complications along the way. As you get older, doctors typically advise you to take greater care of your body. They’ll advise you to watch your diet, exercise, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Your eyes are among the heavy casualties of aging. You might have great vision, and maybe you have never had glasses or contacts, but aging might deliver some surprises to you. That’s why it is advisable that once you turn 40, you should get a comprehensive eye exam.

Some of the issues that might affect your eyes are not inevitable. With the advice from your eye doctor at Williamsburg Eye Care and lifestyle changes, you can manage them quite well.

Keeping a Close Watch on Your Eyes

The following tips are essential if you want to watch your eye health closely. It is a good idea to be proactive in maintaining the health of your eyes.
 

• Regular Eye Checkups

When you have reached the age of 40, you should schedule regular eye exams with your eye doctor. You will be able to catch age-related eye conditions while they are still in the development stage. Conditions such as glaucoma or macular degeneration are best treated early.
 

• Change Your Contact Lens Case

If you wear contacts, how often do you replace your case? It would help if you did this regularly since contact lens cases can get dirty. They can accumulate bacteria that can lead to an infection. It is advisable to clean it often and have it replaced regularly.
 

• Protect Yourself From UV Rays

Protecting yourself from UV rays is one of the oldest tricks in maintaining your eyes. It would be best to have UV light protection when you are outside in the sun. Sunglasses with UV protection are the best option for this.

 

Healthy Habits to Adopt for Healthy Eyes

You might not be able to end the aging process, but you can slow it down. These tips will help you keep your eyes in good health for longer.
 

• Quit Smoking

Smokers and people with a history of smoking have four times the risk of developing conditions that lead to blindness. The chance to develop these conditions is still high even after 20 years of not smoking. Smoking causes cellular changes, vascular constriction, and oxidative stress, which are not good for your eyes.
 

• Maintain a Good BMI

Being out of shape affects your heart, blood sugar, blood pressure, and vision. Studies suggest that people who are obese develop cataracts more often than those who have a good BMI. They also indicate that obesity can increase the chances of developing glaucoma.
 

• Make Exercise a Regular Thing

A study revealed that people who drank little alcohol occasionally and were physically active had less vision loss over 20 years. This is in comparison to people who did not drink at all yet did not exercise. This is evidence of just how powerful regular exercise is to eyes and overall body health.

 

For more on how to keep your eyes healthy as you age, visit Williamsburg Eye Care at our office in Williamsburg, Virginia. You can also call (757) 564-1907 to book an appointment today.