Let’s face it: the eyes are the light of the body because they play a vital role in our interactions with the world around us. However, it is easy to take our eyes for granted instead of caring for them as a matter of priority. Our golden years will be more enjoyable if we take care of our eyes and keep our vision clear.
Most of the time, as we get older, our eyesight starts to deteriorate. It then becomes a big task to read small prints which we once read effortlessly. One of the factors that contributed to this is the introduction of technology into our daily activities, which undoubtedly has been a great and life-changing addition to our lives. However, browsing on our smartphones, laptops, and iPads for an extended period has a negative effect on our eyes.
Research shows that the light emitted from our technological devices, known as blue light, can damage retinal cells. It can also cause vision problems such as age-related macular degeneration. Furthermore, it can contribute to cataracts, eye cancer and growths on the clear covering over the white part of the eye.
Thankfully, maintaining excellent eye care practices can help to slow down the onset of age-related eye problems. Research also shows that these practices can in some cases, reverse them. Read on to learn a few basic tips that you can employ to care for your eyes adequately, as you grow older.
Tips for caring for the eyes
The following tips can help you keep your eyes healthy and ensure they perform optimally.
Have a healthy diet
There is a common saying that we are what we eat and as this holds true for our bodies, it also holds true for our eyes. Therefore, it is vital that you incorporate food items rich in Beta-carotene, Lutein, Omega-3, Lycopene, and Vitamins C, A, and E in your diet. Food items that serve as excellent sources of these nutrients include carrots, fresh tomatoes, salmon, sardines, and turkey, to name a few.
Apply warm compresses every day
As we age, the oil glands in our eyelids get blocked and don’t secrete enough oil to supply adequate tears. This causes dry eyes. So applying warm compresses over the eyelids every day helps to liquefy the oil. This way, it flows freely into the tear supply and keeps the eyes lubricated. To make a warm compress, just wet a piece of clean cloth with warm water and apply over the eyelids for a minute – and you are done.
Have a sound sleep
Sleeping soundly, especially taking short naps as needed works wonders in keeping the eyes healthy. The rule of thumb is to aim for about eight hours of sleep in a day.
Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight
Research shows that being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing diabetes. This, in turn, increases the risk of getting diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. Also, having a regular exercise regimen helps to improve our blood circulation and clean out the harmful substances in the tiny vessels in our eyes. Exercise can also help prevent or manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and high levels of cholesterol. These endemic diseases have been frequently implicated in many eye problems and other age-related ailments. There are simple exercises that you can do at home.
Wear eye protection
If you have not had cause to use prescription glasses, you may want to consider wearing sunglasses when you are out in the sun. Apart from making an excellent fashion statement, sunglasses help protect your eyes from sun exposure. They do so by blocking out about 99 to 100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Reduce the time spent staring at screens because it places a strain on the eyes.
If you must stare at screens such as smartphones, tablets or laptops, it would be best to wear eye protection like photochromic lenses when doing so. Additionally, you may want to consider the 20-20-20 rule;
- Keep screens about 20 inches (or an arm’s length) away from your eyes,
- Take a break from staring at screens every 20 minutes to stare at an object about 20 feet in front of you for about 20 seconds
- Blink 20 successive times to stimulate eye lubrication and reduce eye dryness
Schedule regular eye check-ups with your ophthalmologist
This is perhaps the most vital tip of all, because some eye diseases may not have warning signs. However, with regular eye check-ups, you have better chances of catching eye diseases in the early stages. You also exponentially increase the chances of treating them conclusively before they become chronic and irreversible.
Conclusion
It is vital to care adequately for our eyes, especially as we grow older because they play a crucial role in our transactions with the world around us.
