As you get older, your risk for some eye diseases may increase, but there are steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI) in honor of Healthy Vision Month. The agency recommends starting with overall health care to set yourself up for a lifetime of seeing your best.
Many eye diseases have no early symptoms, so finding an eye doctor you trust is crucial. NEI suggests asking friends and family for recommendations or checking with your health insurance plan to find nearby providers. Getting a dilated eye exam is the single best thing you can do for eye health, as it is the only way to detect eye diseases early when they are easier to treat—before vision loss occurs. Your eye doctor will determine how often you need an exam based on your risk factors.
Incorporating more physical activity into your day can lower your risk for health conditions that affect vision, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Simple activities like walking while on the phone, doing push-ups during TV time, or dancing while doing chores count. Additionally, talking with relatives about family eye health history is important, as conditions like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration can run in families. Sharing that information with your eye doctor can help assess your risk.
Eating a healthy diet rich in dark, leafy greens (spinach, kale, collard greens) and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (halibut, salmon, tuna) can prevent conditions that lead to eye problems. Wearing sunglasses that block 99-100% of UVA and UVB radiation—even on cloudy days—protects eyes from UV rays and lowers the risk of cataracts. Managing long-term conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure is also critical, as they increase the risk for glaucoma and other eye diseases. Finally, if you smoke, making a plan to quit can lower your risk for macular degeneration and cataracts.
NEI encourages testing your eye health knowledge with a quick quiz and finding more vision resources at nei.nih.gov/hvm.
