| |
The 10 Best Ways to Boost Your Eye Health
We should all consider how to
treat and care for our eyes. Over 145 million people worldwide have low
vision due to untreated eye problems that could be avoided. This number
will only increase unless people start to take action against eye
disease and take steps to protect their vision.
At Carlsbad Eye
Care, we specialize in LASIK and PRK as well as cataracts and dry eye
treatment. We also provide general eye exams for patients age 14 or
older, performed by Dr. Tracy himself. By adhering to our list of the
top ten eye health resolutions for the New Year, you can ensure that you
are seeing clearly.
1. Eat right.
Eating a healthy diet with plenty of leafy vegetables rich in
antioxidants can help you maintain the best quality of vision possible
and fight against eye diseases.
2. Wear
sunglasses. Even on cloudy or overcast days, protective eye gear is
necessary. UV rays and blue light can cause long-term damage to your
eyes.
3. Schedule your
eye exam. If you’ve been putting off visiting an eye doctor, schedule
your annual eye exam today. Annual eye exams are recommended for anyone
over the age of 40.
4. Take care of
your contacts. Taking out your contacts when you sleep and keeping them
clean is the first step to preventing any type of infection caused by
contacts.
5. Stop smoking.
Smoking is one of the leading causes of macular degeneration, as well as
other eye diseases. This year, make an effort to stay away from
second-hand smoke and reduce your intake if you are a smoker.
6. Wear
safety eyewear. Protect your eyes when you are playing sports, mowing
the lawn, or working in a situation where something could get into your
eye and possible damage it.
7. Treat dry
eyes. If your eyes feel dry or itchy, you could have dry eyes. Talk to
your ophthalmologist about the symptoms you are experiencing, even if
you think it is just seasonal. Treatment for dry eyes at Carlsbad Eye
Care includes punctal plugs, medications, and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
therapy that treats Meibomian gland dysfunction.
8. Utilize a
reminder tool for glaucoma drops. If you have glaucoma and take eye
drops on a daily basis, set a reminder on your phone to make sure you
take your drops at the appropriate time. That way you won’t skip a dose
or accidentally double it.
9. Reduce
eyestrain. Try rearranging your computer station or talk to Dr. Tracy at
Carlsbad Eye Care about lubricating eye drops that can help ease the
strain on your eyes during the day. It is important to make sure
your work space has adequate lighting and you are working at a
comfortable distance away from your screen.
10. Take
advantage of your FSA and/or health insurance. Most insurance plans
cover eye exams. Flexible spending accounts (FSA) also can cover
elective services, such as IPL therapy and LASIK or PRK. |
|