September is healthy aging month, and a perfect time to focus on the positive aspects of growing older. Age is truly just a number, and developing healthy habits can help feel your best. Taking good care of your physical health can also help keep your vision at its finest.
Healthy eyes begin with maintaining good health overall. Start with a balanced diet full of dark, leafy greens and fish, which is high in omega 3 fatty acids. Good health doesn’t stop with a nutritious diet; physical activity is a major component of staying healthy and can help keep your eyes at their best. Avoid smoking, as it increases your risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and other eye diseases and conditions. And when you are outside, protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat.
Healthy habits are a great step in protecting your vision, but early detection is key for many eye diseases, making it essential to see your eye doctor on a regular basis. Your doctor will look out for signs of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Cataracts are common in people over the age of 50 and result from the buildup of proteins and lipids in the eye. Exposure to sunlight, eye injury, certain medicines, and treatment with corticosteroids can increase your risk for cataracts.
If you are among the many people that develop cataracts as a normal part of aging, there are options to restore the clarity of your vision. Some people have cataracts that can be corrected with a new prescription for their glasses or contacts, while others may need surgery to remove the cataracts. Cataracts cause a clouding of the lens in the eye. During cataract surgery, the surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear, intraocular lens (IOL). If cataracts affect your everyday activities, it’s time to consider surgery.
Maintaining overall good health is a great step to protecting your vision. Eat healthy, exercise and see your eye doctor regularly to keep your eyes at their best.
To schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors, call (309) 243-2400.
