Sight is the No. 1 sense that people value, national vision experts report. But people often take their eyes for granted. Here’s a list of seven tips for vision care recommended by the experts:
- Schedule an eye exam – During a comprehensive exam, an eye doctor checks your vision and the health of your eyes. Through regular exams, eye doctors can identify changes in the eye tissue, which may be indicators of serious medical problems. (Vision insurance may cover the cost of the eye exam and some of the cost for prescription eyeglasses and/or contacts, depending on the plan design.)
- Wear sunglasses with UV protection – When going outside, people may remember to apply sunscreen to prevent sunburn, but forget to wear sunglasses to protect their eyes. Don’t choose just any pair of sunglasses. Look for the “UV” label on the lenses to ensure your eyes will be shielded from harmful ultra-violet sunrays. (Tip: UV and polarized lenses do different things. Polarized lenses reduce glare.)
- Eat nutritious foods – As a child you may have been told to eat your carrots for healthy eyes. Health experts now refute this advice, explaining that carrots don’t have the nutrients your eyes need. Instead, eat kale, spinach and other dark, leafy vegetables, which contain vitamins and antioxidants important for healthy eyes.
- Refrigerate eye drops – Many people use medicated drops to moisten their eyes. But people frequently complain that the liquid stings. Doctors discovered that storing the medications in the refrigerator helps lessen the pain.
- Avoid pink eye – You may have heard that pink eye is a nuisance eye problem that disappears within a few days without any residual effect. However, vision experts report that some patients may experience light sensitivity or even vision loss after the redness is gone. Make sure your eye doctor recognizes whether pink eye is caused by a virus or bacteria, and treats it with appropriate medications.
- Don’t wear contact lenses to bed – Before going to sleep, take out your contact lenses, even those labeled extended wear, to lower the risk of infection. Vision experts report that the chance of infection is 10-15 times higher if contacts are worn while sleeping.
- Consider timing of LASIK after 60 – If you’re age 60 or older and thinking about LASIK surgery, eye doctors recommend waiting until after cataracts develop so vision correction for both problems can be repaired in one surgery.
Source:
13 Secrets Your Eye Doctor Won’t Tell You
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