6 Ways To Maintain Eye Health If You're Over 50

Aging and certain lifestyle choices can affect your vision, especially if you're in your 50's and up. While it's normal for your eyes and vision to change, there are certain actions you can take to protect your sight.

6 Tips for 50+ Eye Health

1. Eat Well

A well-balanced diet helps maintain a healthy body including healthy eyes, and reduces your odds of developing some very serious eye diseases. Nutrients and nutritious foods which help prevent vision loss include: Vitamin A (carrots, spinach, kale, egg yolks, dairy products), Vitamin C (citrus fruits and juices, broccoli, potatoes, green peppers), Vitamin E (whole grains, eggs, sunflower seeds, vegetable oils), Fatty Acids (coldwater fish, corn oil, sunflower oil), Lutein (kale, spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, corn), and Zinc (poultry, meat, fish, dairy products, whole grains).

2. Quit Smoking

Smoking can significantly increase the chances of developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, as well as diabetic retinopathy in diabetics. So if you're a smoker, the sooner you quit, the better.

3. Exercise

Exercising for at least 20 minutes a day is great for your whole body, including your eyes, by increasing blood flow to the optic nerve and retina. In fact, a brisk walk will suffice.

4. Protect Your Eyes

Protecting your eyes from ultraviolet rays with UV-blocking sunglasses can slow down the development of cataracts, prevent sun damage to your retina, and lower the risk of skin cancer near your eyes. Additionally, wearing protective eyewear can shield your eyes from splinters and shards if you play sports or work with materials such as wood, glass or metal.

5. Give Your Eyes a Rest

If you spend a lot of time reading, driving or looking at digital devices, you may develop eye strain and eye fatigue. By implementing the 20-20-20 rule, especially during prolonged computer or smartphone use, you can give your eyes some much-needed rest.

6. Have Regular Eye Exams

A comprehensive eye exam is crucial, as it can detect eye conditions that don't display any symptoms until vision loss has already occurred. These conditions include Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Diabetic Retinopathy.

Age-related vision changes can be challenging, both emotionally and physically. However, some of these can be mitigated by implementing the tips above. Schedule an eye exam with Grove City Vision Center in Grove City to check your eye health today!