Habits to Maintain Optimal Eye Health
Your eyes are at once fragile and incredibly complex, and they depend on you to keep them healthy, flawlessly functioning and safe. Fortunately, preserving optimal eye health requires just a few simple habits and lifestyle choices, along with some good old-fashioned common sense. Here, the trusted West Palm Beach and Jupiter eye care professionals of Mittleman Eye review key habits that will help your eyes thrive, ensuring clear vision for a lifetime.
Routine Exams
Regular eye exams not only keep your vision sharp if you wear glasses or contacts, but also help your Mittleman Eye ophthalmologist check for issues such as glaucoma, ocular hypertension and macular degeneration. Many serious conditions that put your vision and optical health at risk have no obvious symptoms in the early stages, and can only be detected by a trained professional.
Ultraviolet Risks
Sunglasses are an important way to protect your eyes, and not just on sunny days: Harmful ultraviolet rays easily pass through clouds and reflect off water and light-colored surfaces. Quality sunglasses with high levels of UVA and UVB protection are essential to preventing damage to your eyes and the development of conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
Digital Strain
Damaging ultraviolet rays are at the far blue end of the electromagnetic spectrum, but you can get an unhealthy dose of blue light even when you’re out of the sun. Computer screens and other digital devices emit blue light, as do high-definition TVs and the LED lights that are steadily replacing the old incandescent bulbs. Using a screen filter and special glasses designed for computer use, and simply limiting your screen time are all smart ways to protect your eyes and reduce strain.
Contact Lens Safety
If you wear contact lenses, keeping them free of bacteria should be a priority. When bacteria develop on lenses or in lens containers that haven’t been properly cleaned or replaced, the results can range from irritation to serious infection. And some types of eye infection can lead to loss of vision.
Eye-Healthy Nutrients
Just as your diet affects your overall health, your eyes are sensitive to which foods you are consuming — and which nutrients you may be missing.
Many studies have demonstrated that a diet rich in key vitamins and minerals protects your eyes against serious diseases. Omega-3 fats found in salmon and other fish, leafy greens, fruits and vegetables high in beta carotene and anything that is a good source of lutein, zeaxanthin and zinc should be on your shopping list. And don’t forget to burn all those powerful nutrients in the great outdoors: Research suggests there is a strong link between vigorous exercise and improved eye health.
If you would like to learn more about ways to maintain optimal eye health, we invite you to schedule a personal consultation with an experienced ophthalmologist at our West Palm Beach or Jupiter office by contacting Mittleman Eye today.
