A new year brings new goals, possibilities, and challenges. For many people, it’s an opportunity to focus on their wellness and focus on their health. While this is always a good idea, many people do so without considering the health of their eyes.
Vision health is essential for maintaining your overall health and including it in your wellness plan is easier than you may think. Resolutions like getting more exercise and eating better will help improve the health of your eyes. You’ll also need to make sure that you’re protecting your eyes throughout the day and schedule an annual comprehensive exam to protect your overall health.
Exercise and Good Vision Go Hand-In-Hand
You don’t need to take a poll or do an in-depth study to know that getting in shape is one of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions. It’s probably also one of the most quickly abandoned. This is a real shame since living a more active lifestyle is as good for your vision as it is for your waistline.
According to a recent study, regular exercise can help slow down or even prevent common causes of vision loss, especially macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is a chronic condition that slowly steals your central vision. Researchers still aren’t sure how exercise prevents macular degeneration, but they have found that just a little bit of exercise goes a long way when it comes to preventing vision loss.
You should also pay attention to your eyes when exercising. For example, people who wear contact lenses should wear daily contacts when working out or taking part in activities like swimming. Throwing them away afterward helps prevent bacteria from forming in the eye, which can lead to an infection or a more serious problem.
It can also help to get your prescription checked on a regular basis if you live an active lifestyle. Whether you enjoy hiking, running, playing sports, or any other athletic activity, a stronger prescription will make seeing the winning play or the view from the top of the mountain even more clear and beautiful.
How We Eat Can Affect Our Eyes
They say that you are what you eat. While you’ve probably never seen anyone turn into a donut, chances are that you have seen how a person’s diet affects their health. Poor nutrition can lead to a slew of health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. What some people may not realize is that these can affect your vision just as much as your overall health.
Eating for eye health doesn’t usually require an extreme change in how you eat or trying the latest fad diet. Instead, it means following the same tips about how to fill your plate that you’ve been hearing since you were a kid. Lots of vegetables. Lots of fruits. Lots of nuts and seeds. Lots of lean protein.
A balanced diet will ensure that you’re getting plenty of eye-healthy vitamins and nutrients like:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Lutein
- Zinc
The goal is to eat a more well-rounded diet to provide your eyes, and the rest of your body, with the fuel it needs to operate at its best. This can be as easy as substituting your favorite Little Debbie for an apple. By doing so, you’ll be hitting your New Year’s Resolution of eating healthier while also supporting your eye health.
Eyes Need Protection at Work and at Play
If focusing on wellness is part of your New Year’s Resolution then you should be putting vision health at the top of your list. This is because daily life presents a host of dangers and challenges to your eyesight.
Many people tend to think that UV radiation from the sun is only a problem during the summer. The truth is that it’s actually a year-round problem. This is why it’s important to have a high-quality pair of sunglasses on hand to protect your eyes. Choose a pair that offers 99 to 100% UV blocking or says “UV400,” which is the same as 100% UV-blocking.
If you work a trade, then you know the dangers facing your vision on the job site. Make sure that you’re wearing protective eyewear to protect your vision from dangers such as sparks and debris.
People who work in an office face their own dangers when it comes to eye health. Hours spent in front of a computer screen can cause digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome.
Symptoms often include:
- Dry eye
- Neck pain
- Back strain
- Headaches
Try the 20-20-20 rule to help alleviate symptoms. This involves looking at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes for 20 seconds. You can also try blinking more often to moisten your eyes, drinking more water, anti-glare screens, and blue light glasses.
Your Eyes Need A Checkup as Much as Your Teeth
You know to visit your doctor regularly and see your dentist every six months, but how often do you think about the health of your eyes? If it’s been a while since your last visit to the optometrist then it may be time to get a comprehensive eye exam, also known as a baseline eye exam.
Unlike the vision screenings you had in school, comprehensive exams allow eye doctors to see deep inside the eye to check for major vision problems. What’s more, they can detect other health issues just by checking your vision. Many health problems are related to our vision, which makes getting a comprehensive eye exam just as important as getting a physical.
With a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor can check for health issues such as:
- Diabetes
- Autoimmune disorders
- Hypertension
These exams allow eye doctors to examine blood vessels in the eye more comfortably than with other methods. By scheduling a baseline exam, you’re giving your medical team one more way to help you live the healthiest life possible. If focusing on wellness is your New Year’s resolution then scheduling a comprehensive eye exam should be a top priority.
Are you looking for ways to include vision in your wellness plan this year? Contact us today to schedule your comprehensive eye exam.
Hardin Valley Eyecare & Optical has been serving Knoxville since 2009. Located at 10904 Spring Bluff Way, you can schedule an appointment online or give us a call at (865) 888-0892.
