Imagine Jane, a vibrant 55-year-old who has always prided herself on her active lifestyle and good health. One morning, she noticed that her vision seemed a bit blurry and reading the fine print on her favorite book had become a struggle. A visit to her optometrist revealed the early stages of cataracts and presbyopia. Jane was shocked; she had always thought that her vision problems were simply a part of getting older and that there was little she could do to prevent them. However, her doctor explained that many age-related eye conditions are often the result of years of neglected eye care and unhealthy habits. This revelation was a wake-up call for Jane, who realized the importance of taking proactive steps to preserve her eye health. 

Jane’s story is a very common one. As we age, our eyes undergo various changes, and several common problems can arise. Asides from eye conditions genetically inherited, problems associated with aging eyes such as glaucoma, cataracts, pterygium, macular degeneration, presbyopia, light sensitivity etc. usually don’t just spring up, they’re often build ups of unhealthy eye practices we have indulged in.  

 In this post, we highlight the significance of maintaining good eye health as we age, proper eye care habits, optimal lifestyle choices for maintaining good eye health, managing age-related eye conditions, and the inclusion of certain foods and supplements that enhance eye health in our diet.  

  The Importance of Proactive Eye Care  

The habits you might have tolerated in your 20s, such as staring at screens in the dark for extended periods, not taking digital breaks, and neglecting to wear sunglasses outdoors, can become detrimental to your eye health in your 30s, 40s, and 50s. This is why someone who never needed reading glasses before may suddenly find themselves reaching for a pair later in life. It also explains why someone who never wore blue light glasses might start using them after experiencing persistent eye strain, or why someone now relies on photochromic glasses following warnings from their optician about the risk of macular degeneration. The examples are numerous. 

When it comes to eye care, people generally fall into three categories: those with poor eye health who believe everything is fine, those who have adopted protective measures after experiencing eye scares, and those who think they have perfect vision and disregard the importance of eye care. So, which category do you belong to? 

  How to care for your eyes

1. Regular Eye Exams

A number of us are guilty of not showing up at an eye clinic unless, of course, there’s an eye scare. While that may be a good first-aid approach, it’s not a preventative measure for spotting any eye concerns early. Remember, our eyes are delicate, and regular eye exams are crucial because they help detect early signs of vision problems and eye diseases. It’s often said that most eye problems shouldn’t have led to vision loss if only they were spotted early.  

The frequency of eye exams varies based on age, risk factors, and overall eye health; however, here are general guidelines for different age groups: 

 

2. Healthy Lifestyle Choices

These choices include but are not limited to:  

Abstinence from smoking: Smoking increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other eye conditions, and one way to reduce these risks is by abstaining from it. 

Adequate Sleep: Our eye health is significantly linked to our sleep. Lack of quality sleep persistently usually leads to more pressure in the eye which is not good for our eye health. 

Engaging in physical activity: Exercise enhances blood circulation, benefiting the entire body, including the eyes. Improved blood flow ensures that your eyes receive more oxygen and nutrients, which aids in eliminating harmful toxins. This process helps maintain the overall health of your eyes. 

Usage of Eye Protection: There are certain jobs that require one to wear safety eyeglasses such as welding, plumbing, construction etc. So, it’s important to get a pair if you fall into these categories. Also, while engaging in jobs that require one to sit on the systems for long hours, it’s often advised by eye doctors to get a pair of blue-cut lenses to protect the eyes from blue light.

3. Incorporating foods and supplements that boost eye health into our diet

Ever heard the saying, you’re what you eat? Yeah, it rings very true. Our diet also plays a significant role in our eye health. There are certain foods and fruits rich in essential eye vitamins such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A and D, zinc, and vitamin E found in legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs, carrots, leafy vegetables, fish oil, we must incorporate into our diet and let’s not forget the eye elixir, ‘Lutein’. Foods rich in lutein include bell peppers, spinach, parsley, eggs, kale, and corn. You can also opt for supplements of these eye vitamins if you feel you’re not getting enough of them in your diet.

4. Management of Age-Related Eye Conditions

Managing age-related eye conditions involves a combination of preventive measures, lifestyle changes, regular eye exams, and appropriate medical treatments. Here’s a guide to managing some common age-related eye conditions:

Cataracts– 

Symptoms: Blurred vision, glare sensitivity, faded colors. 

Management:  

  – Regular eye exams to monitor progression. 

  – Use stronger lighting and anti-glare sunglasses. 

  – Update eyeglass prescriptions as needed. 

  – Surgery to replace the cloudy lens with an artificial one when vision is significantly impaired. 

  Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)- 

– Symptoms: Blurred or distorted central vision. 

– Management: 

  – Regular eye exams to detect early signs. 

  – Take antioxidant vitamins and minerals as recommended. 

  – Eat a diet rich in leafy greens, fish, and nuts. 

  – Use low-vision aids for better daily functioning. 

  Glaucoma- 

– Symptoms: Gradual loss of peripheral vision. 

– Management: 

  – Regular eye exams, including eye pressure tests and optic nerve assessments. 

  – Prescription eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure. 

  – Oral medications or laser treatment as recommended by an eye care professional. 

  – Surgery in severe cases to improve fluid drainage. 

It’s important to note that regular consultations with an eye care professional are essential for early detection and management of age-related eye conditions. 

 5. Indulge in proper eye care habits

– Resting Eyes: Learn to take breaks from screens. Don’t be a couch potato, this helps minimize digital eye strains, and light sensitivity. The 20-20-20 eye rule still applies here; take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away. 

– Good Lighting: While reading or working, ensure you’ve adequate lighting to prevent eye strain. 

–Keep your hands to yourself: Our hands have a habit of picking germs and when we put those hands on our eyes, we’re indirectly transferring those germs to the eyes, and this could lead to eye infections. So, to avoid this, it’s best to keep those hands to oneself when it comes to eye care and resort to the use of disposable tissue papers if there’s a need to touch the eye area. 

Spend time with nature: Ever had a digital eye strain and stepped out outdoors for few minutes to take a break? Chances are you’d most likely not return indoors with the strain, that’s the power of nature. There’s something about nature and our eye health that’s worth exploring. Research says when we spend time in nature, we give our eyes the pamper it needs as the exposure is a vital source of vitamin D and this vitamin plays a crucial role in maintaining a good eye health by reducing the risk of certain eye conditions such as cataracts, and macular degeneration. So, giving those delicate pair a treat could be as simple as taking a walk in the park, strolling by the beach etc. 

–Protect eyes from UV light: Wear sunglasses that block 100% UV rays or get those delicate eyes a photochromic glass. 

Manage Chronic Conditions: Keeping conditions like diabetes and hypertension under control can prevent related eye problems as the irregularities in blood pressure associated with these conditions tend to affect the retina. 

Avoid Self-medicating: Because of how delicate eyes are, it’s important to note that for any wrong self-diagnosis, complications may await. There have been cases where people pick up OTC eye drops without consulting with their medical practitioner first and the aftermath wasn’t great.  

 It’s often advised that when you’ve got any eye concern, one should contact their health care provider first and luckily for you Healthconnect247 saves you the stress of walking down to see one by bringing healthcare closer to you, with just a call you can speak with our medical practitioners about any eye concerns from conjunctivitis, allergic Conditions, to eyelid Inflammation etc. There’s also remote monitoring of any eye concern, so we’ve got you covered. You can speak to our doctors via our toll-free line 0-8000-432584, or by downloading the Healthconnect247 app on iOS and Android.