Vision loss can happen at any age. However, preventing vision loss can become an even greater concern for seniors. Thankfully, there are several ways to age-proof your vision. These tips can help ensure that you have optimal eyesight now and in the future.
An overwhelming amount of evidence shows that staying healthy as you age reduces the risk of eye problems. While vision impairment among older adults, those over 50, is more common, the occurrence is not inevitable. You can take proactive steps to protect your eyesight and enjoy better vision in your golden years.
How can Seniors Prevent Vision Loss?
Here are six best practices you can begin implementing today to help you maintain the health of your eyes and ultimately lower your risk for vision loss.
Have a Routine Dilated Eye Exam
One of the best things you can do to prevent vision loss once you are over 60 is to receive an annual routine eye exam. It should be a comprehensive dilated exam from an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Many people believe that their eyes are fine, even when they have an underlying problem. An exam is the best way to be proactive about your current eye health. It helps protect the eyes by identifying potential issues before they become serious.
Fortunately, with early intervention, many common vision problems can be treated with glasses or contact lenses. Even eye diseases, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, can be treated to slow the progression of vision loss.
Maintain Your Blood Sugar Levels
Another way to prevent vision loss is by maintaining your blood sugar levels. Your blood sugar levels can significantly impact the quality of your eyesight. High levels can lead to various conditions, including blurred vision, cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy.
To help maintain your levels, there are three important things that you will need to monitor. This includes your A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
- A1c: This is a common blood test used to monitor a person’s risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Find out from your doctor what a healthy goal is for your A1c.
- Blood Pressure: Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers. The first is your systolic blood pressure and the second is your diastolic blood pressure. Talk with your doctor to determine a healthy blood pressure for you.
- Cholesterol: To maintain blood sugar levels, you want to lower your LDL, which is considered bad cholesterol. You also want to increase your HDL, which is good cholesterol. If you do not know your cholesterol, ask your doctor to run a test so you can be aware of your levels.
Eat for Your Sight
Did you know that increasing your intake of certain foods could help improve your eyesight? Many foods are enriched with the right nutrients to help you maintain optimal eye health.
There are a variety of foods to add to your daily menu that can effectively support your eye health. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends carrots and dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens just to name a few. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to have eye health benefits. Foods rich in omega-3s include salmon, tuna, and halibut.
Manage Your Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is a great way to help prevent vision loss. This is because being overweight increases a person’s risk of developing diabetes. In turn, diabetes increases the risk of developing certain types of vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease and glaucoma.
With that said, you can maintain a healthy weight by adopting a diet high in fruits and vegetables and ensuring that you get a little bit of physical activity each day.
Stay Active
You can add vision protection to the long list of benefits of exercise. A long-term study of more than 15,000 individuals found that those who were physically active experienced less vision loss over a 20-year period than those who did not exercise at all.
Sport Some Shades
A 1998 a Johns Hopkins study was among the first to link sun exposure to an increased risk of cataracts. And those with fair skin and blue eyes have an even higher risk of developing cataracts. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light also increases the risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). The theory is that increased UV light causes changes in the metabolism of the cells in the retina and lens.
When it comes to choosing the perfect pair of sunglasses, make sure they protect against UV-A and UV-B wavelengths, and wrap around your face. Another Johns Hopkins study also found that up to 20 percent of the sun’s rays can “leak” through the sides of typical glasses.
Eye health and preventing vision loss is always important. These are just a few of the things that you can begin implementing today to lower your risk of vision loss and ensure healthy eyes for many years to come.
At senior living communities like Convivial St. Petersburg, coming soon to St. Pete, Florida, comprehensive wellness programs will teach and support all forms of healthy aging. They work to make aging well easy and fun. To learn more about Convivial St. Petersburg’s independent living community or attend an event contact us or us a call at 941-220-5219.