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Healthy Vision: 10 Ways to Save Your Vision

From wearing the right eye wear and getting regular exams to eating right and caring for your lenses, there are many things you can do to protect your vision.

Healthy Vision Month

Here are the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Top 10 Tips to Save Your Vision:

1. Wear sunglasses

Direct sunlight hastens the formation of cataracts, so wearing UV blocking sunglasses can delay their development. Sunglasses prevent retinal damage and protect delicate eyelid skin, preventing wrinkles and skin cancer around the eye. Make sure your sunglasses block 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays. McFarland Eye Centers offer a variety of sunglasses that meet these requirements.

2. Don't smoke

If you smoke, stop. If you don't smoke, don't start. Tobacco smoking is directly linked to many adverse health effects, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Studies show that current smokers and ex-smokers are more likely to develop AMD than people who have never smoked. Smokers are also at increased risk for cataracts.

3. Eat right

Vitamin deficiency can impair retinal function. A variety of vegetables, including leafy green ones, should be an important part of your diet. Researchers have found people on diets with higher levels of vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are less likely to develop early and advanced AMD.

4. Get regular eye exams

Adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease should get a baseline eye disease screening at age 40. This is time when early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to occur. Your ophthalmologist or optometrist will prescribe the necessary intervals for follow-up exams. Call your nearest McFarland Eye Center to set up an appointment for an eye exam.

5. Wear eye protection

Millions of eye injuries occur in the U.S. each year, so it is critical to wear proper eye protection to prevent eye injuries due to anything from sports to home maintenance to workplace hazards. McFarland Eye Centers have the protective eye wear that you need to keep your eyes safe.

6. Know your family history

Studies show that you are at an increased risk for eye disease if you have an immediate family member with eye disease, including cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Knowing your family history and informing your ophthalmologist or optometrist.

7. Early intervention

Most serious eye conditions, such as glaucoma and AMD, are often more easily and successfully treated if diagnosed and treated early. If left untreated, these diseases can cause serious vision loss and blindness. Early intervention helps prevent vision loss later.

8. Know your eye care provider

Ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians all play important roles in providing eye care services to you. Each of these professionals has a different level of training and expertise. At McFarland Eye Centers, we will make sure your are seeing the right kind of eye care specialist for your individual needs.

9. Contact lens care

Be sure to follow your eye care provider's instructions regarding the care and use of contact lenses. Abuse of contacts–such as sleeping in contacts not approved for overnight wear, using saliva or water as a wetting solution, using expired solutions or using disposable contacts beyond their wear–can result in corneal ulcers, severe pain and even vision loss.

10. Be aware of eye fatigue

If you have eye strain from working at a computer or doing close work, close your eyes for 5 to 15 seconds for every minutes of work. If eye fatigue persists, it can be a sign of several different conditions. See a McFarland Eye Center provider to determine why you are having eye fatigue and to receive proper treatment.

More Information

For more information on keeping your eyes healthy and protecting your vision, call your nearest McFarland Eye Center and read the information at the following links:

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