Healthy Insights
Protect your eyes now, and for years to come
May 9, 2014 CNIB & Doctors of Optometry Canada
All it takes is a few healthy habit upgrades
The thought of not being able to see your daughter’s wedding or your first grandchild is unthinkable – and it should be. We worry about maintaining our weight, warding off wrinkles and preventing illness as we age, but often forget about preserving our vision. Luckily, taking care of eye health is easier than you may think.
What can you do to look after your eyesight?
1- Get checked out
Regular eye exams by a doctor of optometry are essential, even if your vision appears to be good and you have no complaints. Comprehensive eye exams look at the health of the eye and the visual system in addition to testing your vision. Children should have their first complete optometric exam between six and nine months of age, another between ages 2 and 5, and yearly after they start school. Adults should be seen every two years; people with diabetes and those over age 65 or with a history of eye disease in their family should have yearly checkups.
“Routine eye exams can detect eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, along with general health conditions such as diabetes and vascular disease.” – Dr. Jason Pearce, Doctor of Optometry, Calgary, AB
2- Eat well
Studies show that certain foods – including leafy greens, oily fish like salmon and tuna, eggs, nuts, beans and citrus fruit – can ward off age-related vision problems. Maintaining a healthy weight also helps prevent type 2 diabetes, a leading cause of blindness in adults.
“I suffered complications with glaucoma a few years ago and lost my sight. I can’t stress enough how vital it is to be vigilant about eye health. Have regular eye exams and see your doctor about any changes in your eyes or if you have headaches.” – Johanna Turner, Vancover, BC, CNIB Patient
3- Use screen sense
Blinking is important for eye health and comfort because it clears and refreshes the front of the eye, but we tend to blink 50 per cent less when reading a screen. Take frequent screen breaks to ensure you’re blinking often enough. As a guideline, use the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes look 20 feet away for 20 seconds to relax the eyes.