7 Ways To Keep Your Eyes Healthy

TATLER FOCUS As we age—gracefully, of course—everyone experiences presbyopia. The condition is a natural part of aging, whereby the lenses of our eyes thicken and lose its elasticity, resulting in refractive errors. But just because it's unavoidable, doesn't mean we should neglect the health of our eyes. Here are some ways to keep age-related ailments away.

1. Eat healthy

A well-balanced diet leads to good health. Foods rich in beta-carotene, Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, lycopene, zinc and vitamins A, C, and E help maintain your eye health and keep age-related vision ailments at bay. This means loading up your plate with greens like spinach and kale; Omega-3-rich fishes; proteins from eggs; nuts and beans; and citrus fruits.

2. Protect your eyes from the sun

Your skin isn’t the only organ you need to shield from the sun. UV damage can also occur to your eyes, resulting in UV-related aging, or eye damage that leads to cataracts. Wear sunglasses or contact lenses with UV protection—such as 1-Day Acuvue Moist Brand Multifocal Contact Lenses—or sun hats and caps when you are outdoors.

Stay hydrated

We all know that taking in fluids and staying hydrated is vital to our body. Drinking water helps to boost your immune system, flush out toxins, prevent joint pains, and ward off dry eyes—a problem plaguing most city-dwellers who are constantly exposed to air conditioning and city pollutants. Long-term use of contact lenses is also a cause, so opt for lenses with high moisture content and avoid wearing them for longer than the recommended usage.

3. Be gentle on your eyes

Rubbing your eyes with unclean hands, or residues from make-up can cause eye irritations and even infections. Keep your hands away from your eyes, and ensure that they are clean when you put on your contact lenses. Disposable contact lenses are a hygienic and convenient option to maintain eye cleanliness. Also, if you are a fan of eyeliners, mascara and eyeshadow, make sure you use a dedicated eye make-up remover to keep the area around your peepers squeaky clean.

4. Quit smoking 

Smoking is not only detrimental to our lungs, but also makes you more vulnerable to age-related eye conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts. The damage it causes to your optic nerves can also result in degeneration of vision.

5. Give it a rest 

Smartphone devices, computer screens, and television—our eyes are constantly straining as we work and play. It is good practice to take regular breaks for your eyes at least once every two hours. Reset them by looking 20 feet in the distant for 20 seconds, then blinking to lubricate them.

6. Keep in touch with your eye doctor

Regular visits to the optometrist ensure that you are up to date with your eye’s health. As we grow older, our eyes are more susceptible to age-related conditions, so early discovery is always beneficial for treatment. Updated prescriptions also mean we won’t be squinting and straining our eyes, leading to further deterioration. Acuvue’s Multifocal Experience Centres provides personalised services tailored for presbyopia, to ensure your comfort and lifestyle needs are met.

Topics

Presbyopia eye care age-related eye conditions eye health health tips healthy aging graceful aging

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