While it would be nice if our vision was at its best throughout our entire life, as we age it slowly deteriorates. However, with the proper eye care in Kelowna and overall regular eye care you can do yourself on a daily basis you can keep your vision in good health.
Maintaining Your Eye Care in Kelowna: Eating Healthy
Although carrots have been proven to not be the end-all-be-all when it comes to your eye health, they and many other foods can make a difference in helping keep your eyes protected and seeing their best.
Foods with the following nutrients can particularly help with eyesight:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Fatty Acids
- Lutein
- Zinc
What kind of foods does this translate to? Dark, leafy greens like spinach and broccoli, whole grains, citrus fruits, and fish are all good choices to keep your eyes in good health.
Stop Smoking or Don’t Start
Smoking is well-known for its swath of issues that it can cause, and that extends to ocular health as well. In particular, smoking can significantly increase the chances of developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, as well as diabetic retinopathy in diabetics.
Essentially, the sooner you put down the cigarettes, the more your eyes will thank you for it.
Protect Your Eyes When You Go Out
Sunglasses can be for more than making you look cool. If they’re a quality pair, they can also help protect you from the sun and therefore, keep your vision at its best.
When buying a pair of sunglasses, look for either a sticker or something on the label that says “100 percent UVA- and UVB-absorbent protection” or “UV 400.” However, some brands aren’t as reputable for protection compared to others, make sure to talk to your optometrist in Kelowna for brands they recommend looking into.
Bear in mind, these protective sunglasses can still be chic, in fact, from the outside they still look like normal sunglasses, even those that are prescription sunglasses.
Take a Break From Screens
With so much of our lives spent now either browsing our phones or working on computers the effect this can have on our eyes is very real. This is especially true when we’re older. The best way to keep your eyes in good health when it comes to screens is to look at something at least 20ft away, every 20 min. for at least 20 seconds (also known as the 20-20-20 rule) when you’re looking at screens for long periods.
Taking a break from screens can also be a good idea for your sleeping habits as well if you make sure to avoid looking at them an hour before bed.
Schedule Regular Eye Exams
Finally, by scheduling regular eye exams your optometrist will be able to identify issues you wouldn’t notice yourself early so they can be treated and corrected as needed. Plus, they can update your prescription if needed so you’re always seeing as clearly as possible.
Overall, by eating well, taking the appropriate breaks from screens, and even exercising regularly (a brisk walk is even good) to get blood flowing to your optic nerves and retinas you can improve and maintain the health of your vision.