Eye Health Care | Preventing Vision Problems

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Preventing Vision Problems

Though some vision problems are the natural results of aging, there are things you can do to help prevent many common eye problems and maintain your vision longer.

Focus on Nutrition

Research shows that eating a healthy diet that includes fruits, green leafy vegetables and fish and liver promotes eye health and may help to reduce your risk of developing some serious eye problems. Consider taking vitamins or dietary supplements daily, particularly those formulated specifically for eye health, to supplement the essential nutrients that support your vision. You should always consult your doctor before adding any vitamin or mineral supplements to your diet. Maintaining a healthy weight can also help prevent or control diseases such as diabetes, which can cause vision problems.

Quit Smoking

Research indicates that smoking is a risk factor for degenerative eye disease. Stop smoking as early as possible to help reduce the risk of developing AMD.

Wear Sunglasses

When you are outdoors in bright sunlight, it is a good idea to wear sunglasses that block 100 percent of the sun's harmful UV rays. Polarized sunglasses also eliminate glare, which lessens eyestrain.

Prevent Injuries

When you are playing sports, mowing, doing home maintenance projects or performing other tasks that may cause eye injuries, wear safety glasses or goggles to protect your eyes. You can prevent most eye injuries with simple protective eyewear.

Get Regular Eye Exams

Schedule regular exams for everyone in your family, particularly children and seniors whose vision can change relatively rapidly. Your eye doctor can catch many eye problems early and provide treatment to prevent permanent vision damage.

Reduce Eyestrain

Ask your eye doctor about special coatings for the lenses of your glasses that can reduce glare, reflections, fogging and scratches. There are even special glasses to reduce the strain of staring at computers for long periods of time.

Keep Your Contact Lenses Clean and Replace Them as Recommended

Follow your eye doctor's instructions about how long to keep your contact lenses in your eyes and how frequently you should replace them.

In addition, be sure to follow the care and disinfection instructions specific to your contact lenses. Dirty contact lenses can irritate your eyes and cause serious eye infections. Improper care and use of contacts can lead to redness, pain, swelling and infection.

Astigmatism

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Eye Health

Eye Nutrition

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Astigmatism

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Eye Health Care | Preventing Vision Problems

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