Every year, we recognize May as Healthy Vision Month! Established by the National Eye Institute in 2003, Healthy Vision Month is a timely reminder to prioritize the importance of caring for your vision.
Keep reading to learn how you can maintain your healthy vision in honor of Healthy Vision Month!
Schedule Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams
Even if you are not currently experiencing any problems with your vision, it is a good idea to get an eye exam regularly. Regular eye exams protect and maintain the quality and clarity of your vision.
During a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor will perform a number of painless, non-invasive tests. They will use these tests to determine your ability to see near and far distances, whether your eye is maintaining the correct amount of pressure, and the health of the structures inside your eye.
The recommended eye exam schedules varies by age, though if you experience a change in your vision, you should consult an eye doctor right away. Regular exams are especially important for children, as they often are not aware of gradual changes to their vision.
Maintain a Vision-Friendly Diet
Studies have shown promising results about the eye health benefits of eating foods rich in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, lutein, and vitamins E and C. These nutrients are believed to help prevent age-related eye health issues like cataracts and macular degeneration.
You can boost your healthy vision by eating foods like:
- Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
- Spinach, kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, and other leafy green vegetables
- Non-meat sources of protein, including eggs, beans, nuts, and tofu
- Oranges, lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits
- Lean, non-fish proteins like pork and chicken
Always Wear Your Shades
A stylish pair of sunglasses not only look cool, but they are also an important way for you to protect the health of your vision. Over-exposure to UVA and UVB rays from the sun can increase your chances of developing both cataracts and macular degeneration, which can lead to permanent vision loss.
When shopping for sunglasses, you should look for a pair of lenses that can protect your eyes from both harmful UVA and UVB rays when you are outdoors. You should also consider a protective coating option for your non-tinted eyeglasses.
Take Eye Breaks from Your Screens
It’s probably safe to assume that you spend a fair amount of time looking at a screen daily, whether for work or entertainment. Eye strain from staring at a screen for hours can cause blurry vision, eye strain, focusing problems, dry eyes, and headaches.
You can alleviate or prevent the negative effects screens have on your vision by taking regular eye breaks. A good rule to follow is the 20-20-20 rule, which suggests that you take a break every twenty minutes by looking up for twenty seconds at an object at least twenty feet away.
You can also protect your vision from screens by wearing prescription or non-prescription glasses which block blue light, using artificial tears to maintain eye moisture, and positioning your screen so that your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. This May, let Healthy Vision Month remind you of the importance of caring for your vision.
By taking a few simple steps, you can help yourself have a lifetime of healthy vision!
Let us help you maintain the health of your vision! Schedule an appointment at Shepherd Eye Center at one of our 5 locations in Las Vegas or Henderson, NV, today!
