Best Ways to Protect Your Eyesight

There is no way to guarantee perfect vision for your entire life. One in six Americans will develop an age-related vision disorder after the age of 45. In fact, it is estimated by the American Academy of Ophthalmology that over 40 million Americans will develop an eye disease within the next ten years.

While there is no way to guarantee perfect vision, there are several steps that can be taken to minimize you risks for vision disorders. Making simple lifestyle changes can dramatically improve your potential for maintaining optimal vision well into the future.

How to Protect Your Eyesight

Protecting your eyesight is relatively simple. The best ways to protect your eyesight include:

Do not smoke. If you do smoke, quit. Learn more about Smoking and the eyes.
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables
Avoid fatty, sugary foods
Eat more lean meat and reduce your consumption of red meat
Take nutritional supplements for your vision
Get at least two hours of moderate exercise weekly
Wear sunglasses at all times when you are outside
See your physician regularly for physical exams
See your eye doctor every year for thorough exams
Wear protective sports eyewear when exercising or playing sports

When you visit your eye doctor, come prepared with your family history of eye disease. Also let your ophthalmologist know of any systemic issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. This information will help your ophthalmologist know what to look for during your exam.

Making lifestyle changes to protect your eyes is very important, but only your eye doctor can detect and treat serious vision issues before they lead to complete vision loss. Working closely with an experienced ophthalmologist is essential to keeping your eyes as healthy as possible for years to come.

If you are interested in learning more about protecting your eyesight as you age, please contact an ophthalmologist in your area to schedule an initial consultation today.