As we get older, we become a lot more prone to a wide range of different health-altering factors and conditions. If you’re over 50, then one of those aspects of your health that you might find starting to change is that of your eyesight. Here, we’re going to look at how you can do more to protect your eyes, to adapt to any change, and to keep them as healthy as possible, going forward.
Protect your eyes from the sun
Perhaps the most frequent risk to our eyes is exposure to the sun. The UV radiation given off by the sun can do real damage, including increasing the chance of cataracts and speeding up macular degeneration, both of which affect your vision. If you are buying sunglasses, then make sure that they have the appropriate markings to showcase that they do, indeed, block both UVA and UVB rays, and see that they block at least 99% of them.
Mind your screen time
While there is no evidence that too much screentime causes permanent damage to the eye, it can certainly cause the kind of irritation and pain, not to mention temporary blurry vision, that you don’t want to happen. Be sure to take breaks from the screen, avoid looking at one in a dark room too often, and use screen-dimming apps that can make your screen time a little gentler on the eyes, at the very least.
Get them checked out
Don’t simply assume that you know what your eye health is like. Our eyes can change gradually and things like age-related macular degeneration can be hard to notice at first. Get a comprehensive picture of your eye health with routine eye exams. Aside from giving you a better idea of what your vision is like, these eye exams can also help you find and diagnose a host of diseases that might otherwise have no symptoms, so they are well worth making time for.
Stop your smoking
One of the leading causes of cataract development in people of any age, but especially older people, is smoking. It can also cause macular degeneration, including speeding up the type that happens naturally with age and can weaken the optic nerve, all of which can worsen your eyesight. There are a lot of aids to help you stop smoking, from gum to patches to vapes, so even if you’ve tried before, you might find more success this time.
Be mindful of the risk of damage
If you are ever in a place where there is a chance of coming in contact with hazardous materials or airborne particulates, then you should make sure that you have safety glasses or goggles at the ready. This can include stuff as simple as sawdust from a DIY project.
Be mindful of how you treat your eyes. We rely on them to the point of taking them for granted, but when your vision begins to suffer, it becomes clear just how important they are to your quality of life.