The summer is a great time to start a new eye-care routine! Here are six things you can do to keep your eyes in tip-top shape.
- Have regular eye exams. Even if you’re not having any noticeable vision problems, have your eyes examined regularly. Many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration often have no symptoms. Everyone should have at least one eye exam as a child or young adult, and as we age, the frequency of these examinations should increase.
- Always wear safety glasses. Did you know that each day, about 2,000 U.S. workers have a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment? Or that every 13 minutes, an ER in the United States treats a sports-related eye injury?* Most eye injuries can be prevented by choosing and wearing the correct eye safety glasses for the job 100% of the time.
- Eat healthy foods. Research suggests that antioxidants and other important nutrients may reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Getting proper nutrition by eating a diet high in zinc, vitamins C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein will lead to good eye health. Incorporate foods such as kale, spinach, oranges, eggs, broccoli, nuts & seeds, fish, liver, and carrots into your daily routine.
- Always wear sunglasses. When outside, slip on UV-protective shades. Damage to eyes from UV rays builds up over a lifetime and has been linked to cataracts, macular degeneration and other conditions that are harmful to the eyes. Even in the shade, UV rays can bounce off objects and cause vision problems.
- Go to bed. Adults should get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night. Without adequate rest, eye fatigue may make it difficult to get through daily activities. While not a serious problem, symptoms such as soreness, irritation, blurry vision or dry/watery eyes may be bothersome.
- Take those contacts out! Extended wear of contact lenses can lead to significant problems for your eyes and predisposes you to serious infections that can permanently damage your sight. Some contact lenses say they can be worn for extended periods of time without being removed, but studies have shown that any overnight lens wear increases the risk of corneal swelling and serious infection. So, while you are resting, let your eyes rest too!
For more helpful eye care tips, visit the eye-care specialists at Emory Eye.
*References
About Dr. Randleman
J. Bradley Randleman, MD, is a widely respected cornea specialist whose areas of expertise include: cataract and refractive cataract surgery with premium IOL implantation, LASIK and other corneal and intraocular refractive surgical procedures, the management of keratoconus, corneal diseases, and corneal transplantation. His primary research interests include the diagnosis, prevention, and management of refractive surgical complications and corneal cross-linking.
Dr. Randleman joined the Emory Eye Center faculty in 2004 and served as assistant residency director for two years while also completing a fellowship at Emory University in cornea/external disease and refractive surgery. He serves as service director for the section of Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery.