We have five basic senses – sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste – and each is important. However, out of the five, your sense of sight is the one that can affect your life the most noticeably if it were decreased or lost.
For this reason, keeping your eyes healthy should be a top priority. There are a number of things that you can do to help maintain optimum eye health and to prevent vision loss, so here are a few key tips from the eye doctors at Advanced Sight Center:
Protect Your Eyes
The sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your eyes, potentially causing cataracts or even cancer. If you are outside during the daytime, wear sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection.
Another thing that can be harmful to the eyes is blue light, which is emitted by computer, tablet, and cellphone screens. Blue light emits a shorter wavelength and stronger energy than does red light, which is at the opposite end of the light spectrum and emits less energy.
Because of the stronger energy, blue light can cause eyestrain. That is why it is so important to take breaks from looking at a screen about every 20 minutes or so.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Foods that are rich in vitamins E, C, and beta-carotene (which the body converts into vitamin A) can greatly benefit your eyesight, while foods that are full of saturated fat can constrict blood flow to the eyes. Age-related macular degeneration, which can cause blindness, may be accelerated by diets that are high in unhealthy fats. Talk to your eye doctor about what supplements would be recommended for you.
Exercise Regularly
Daily exercise improves blood circulation, including in the tiny vessels in and around the eyes. Better circulation means toxins are efficiently being removed from the body, and oxygen is flowing effectively to the cells throughout the body.
Regular exercise can therefore help prevent a wide range of eye problems, including macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma, and can also reduce pressure inside your eyes. Even a brisk 20-minute walk every day can benefit your eyesight.
Get Adequate Sleep
Eyes that have had a good night’s sleep tend to have better function and clearer vision the next day. Have you noticed how if you lack sleep, your eyes feel dry and teary? Listen to your body and get enough sleep that you don’t feel tired the next day.
Eye Doctor in Washington and Missouri
If you want to achieve and maintain healthy eyes and excellent vision, our board-certified ophthalmologists at Advanced Sight Center are here to provide superior eye care. This includes prevention of the most common eye problems, such as vision issues, glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
If you have any questions or would like to request an appointment with one of our experienced eye doctors here in the greater St. Louis area, call our friendly staff today in Washington at (636) 239-1650. You can also fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you maintain healthy eyes for a lifetime!
