May 6, 2019 | Abby Caviness
Since we are on our way to the year 2020, maybe it is time to work toward 20/20 vision. So, what better occasion to learn how to take care of your eyes than Healthy Vision Month? In honor of the holiday, USHEALTH Group® wants to help you with a few tips and tidbits!*
Vision Problems Affect More Than Just Your Eyes
Taking care of your vision health is just as important as your physical health.1 In fact, according to Everyday Health, vision problems can affect other parts of your body. For example, vision problems:2
- Can increase your risk of death
- May be a red flag for other health issues
- May be linked to depression
- Can cause anxiety
Common Vision
Problems
There is a myriad of vision problems people suffer from. Some people are born with poor vision. Other people suffer from age-related vision problems later in life. In fact, the most common eye diseases people suffer from include:3
- Cataracts
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Dry eye disease
- Glaucoma
- Macular degeneration
Your Age May Be The Cause
Most of these issues are age-related. So, you may not suffer from these diseases now. However, it is important to take steps to prevent them from affecting you in the future. Luckily, there are several ways to do so.
Healthy Vision
Tidbits
The National Eye Institute provides some simple tips to maintain your eye health. For example, these tips include:4
- Having a comprehensive dilated eye exam
- Eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight
- Wearing protective eyewear
- Quitting smoking or never starting
- Wearing protective eyewear
- Giving your eyes a rest from the computer
Benefits Later in Life
You may think taking these steps to maintain your vision health may not mean much now. However, your future self will thank you. In addition, there are other things you should know about taking care of your eyes.
The Best Foods for
Healthy Vision
Unfortunately, there are no foods on this Earth that will magically restore your sight or give you superhero vision. However, there are foods which help maintain your eye health. For example, these include:5
- Fish, which have omega-3 fatty acids
- Eggs, which contain vitamin A, lutein, zeaxanthin and zinc
- Almonds, which contain vitamin E
- Dairy, which contains vitamin A and zinc
- Carrots, which contain vitamin A and beta carotene
- Kale and red peppers, which contain lutein and zeaxanthin
- Oranges and other citrus fruits, which contain vitamin C
Common Vitamins and Minerals
As you can see, these foods contain many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Due to this, these foods can help preserve your eye health. Though vitamin A is the key vitamin for maintaining your vision, there are additional vitamins you can incorporate to keep your eyes healthy!
Take Your Vitamins
(and Nutrients)
Each vitamin and nutrient you take serves a different purpose for your eye health. For example, vitamin A maintains a clear cornea, which is the outside covering of your eye.6
Because of this, take a look at other vitamins and nutrients you can take for eye health and see what they do!6
- Vitamin E protects your cells from unstable molecules and may prevent age-related cataracts
- Vitamin C is required to make collagen, which provides structure to your cornea and sclera
- Lutein and zeaxanthin help filter potentially harmful blue light and protect the eyes from damage
- Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and may prevent diabetic retinopathy
Once again, these vitamins are not miracle workers and will
solve any vision problems, but they are good tools for preserving your vision
down the road.
Takeaway
To sum up, your vision is important for daily life—the work you do, the paths you walk and all the people you want to see. In fact, taking care of your eyes now will save you trouble in the future. So, considering incorporating a few of these tips and start caring for your eyes the way they deserve.
*This
material is provided by USHEALTH Group for informational/educational purposes
only and should not replace medical/clinical advice or direction from your
health care provider.
References
- National Eye Institute, “About Healthy Vision Month,” nei.nih.gov, accessed April 30, 2019, https://nei.nih.gov/hvm/about_hvm
- George, Nancie, “6 Unexpected Ways Eye Problems Can Hurt You,” EverydayHealth.com, last modified August 21, 2014, https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/ways-eye-problems-can-hurt-you/
- Arnarson, Atli, “8 Nutrients That Will Optimize Your Eye Health,” Healthline.com, published February 15, 2019, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-nutrients-for-eyes
- Nation Eye Institute, “Eye Health Tips,” nei.nih.gov, accessed April 30, 2019, https://nei.nih.gov/healthyeyes/eyehealthtips
- Butler, Natalie, “7 Best Foods for Healthy Eyes,” Healthline.com, published February 9, 2017, https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/best-foods-for-eyes
- Meixner, Makayla, “The 9 Most Important Vitamins for Eye Health,” Healthline.com, published July 25, 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/eye-vitamins