HOW TO PREVENT COMMON EYE CONDITIONS

Keeping your eyes healthy is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health and wellbeing. There are several common eye conditions that, if left untreated, can lead to vision issues or even vision loss. However, these conditions are easily preventable if the right steps are taken. Here are some of the most common eye conditions afflicted by adults and tips to help you prevent them from developing.

COMMON EYE CONDITIONS EXPLAINED
Oftentimes, many eye conditions will develop over time, and they’ll often develop without early-onset symptoms. Some of the most common eye conditions include:
. Glaucoma: Glaucoma is the general term for a series of eye diseases that can damage your optic nerve, which is often caused by increased pressure on the eye. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, and it’s often not noticed until serious vision loss is experienced.
. Cataracts: Cataracts are a clouding of the eye, which is caused by damage to your eye’s lens. This often leads to blurred vision and difficulty seeing at night. Surgery is the most common treatment for restoring vision affected by cataracts.
. Macular Degeneration: Affecting the central part of the retina, macular degeneration can gradually affect central vision, making it hard to do simple tasks, such as reading, driving, or even recognizing a loved one.
. Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy affects people with diabetes. High blood sugar levels damage the retina’s blood vessels, which are located in the back of the eye, leading to swelling, blurred vision or vision loss.

8 WAYS TO PREVENT COMMON EYE CONDITIONS
While the above eye conditions can be severe, they are fortunately treatable and even preventable. To avoid the side effects of these dangerous diseases, take the following proactive steps:

1. Diet: A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins A, C and E provide all the necessary nutrients to strengthen your vision. Some good foods to implement include dark leafy greens, like spinach, kale or collard greens, as well as fish, including salmon, tuna and trout. Citrus and nuts are also excellent snacks that provide these vitamins.

2. Know Your Health: Many common eye conditions are genetic, so there’s a chance you may be pre-
disposed. If possible, try to understand your family’s health history, particularly regarding eye health. If you have chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, try to keep your health in range. Maintaining a healthy weight will also keep stress off your body.

3. Avoid Smoking: Smoking has been found to increase the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Quitting or never starting smoking can significantly boost your eye health.

4. Take Care in the Sun: UV rays can be especially damaging to your eyes when outside. Look for sunglasses that have at least 99% UVA and UVB protection.

5. Practice Eye Safety: Protective eyewear, both at work and at home, can decrease your risk of eye injury. Painting, construction, yardwork or sports are common activities where protective eyewear should be worn at all times.

6. Limit Screen Time: While it may be hard to look away from your phone or computer in today’s ever-connected world, digital eye strain is a serious complication that can affect your eye’s health. The 20-20-20 rule – looking up every 20 minutes at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds – can help prevent the damages caused by excess screen time.

7. Use Contact Lens Safety: If you wear corrective contact lenses, it’s important to wash your hands before taking them out or putting them in. You should also properly clean your contact lenses nightly to avoid dangerous eye infections.

8. Schedule Comprehensive Eye Exams: Many common eye conditions, including those mentioned above, are screened for during comprehensive eye exams. Eye exams use imaging to take pictures of critical parts of the eye, including the retina and optic nerve, to look for “undetected” signs of disease. It’s the quickest way to get a personalized health plan to manage your eye health.

PRESERVE YOUR EYE HEALTH WITH LAKE EYE
Even by following proactive at-home steps, the best way to prevent eye conditions from developing is to schedule and receive regular eye exams. Your optometrist will work with you and prescribe treatment plans to prevent eye diseases from progressing. For advanced eye health protection from common eye conditions, contact the experts at Lake Eye.

Lake Eye, a US Eye company, is dedicated to preserving and restoring your vision. We offer comprehensive eye exams, a full-service optical department, and advanced surgical treatments for nearly every common eye condition. To learn more about the variety of services we provide to help slow and reverse vision loss, contact Lake Eye today and schedule an appointment with one of our experienced ophthalmologists or optometrists.

Lake Eye Associates

352-775-1533
LakeEye.com

1 RxSight P160055: FDA Summary of Safety and
Effectiveness Data. 2017.