May is healthy vision month. Are you taking care of yours?
According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), when it comes to the average person, your eyes provide you with 80% of the information you take in each day.
They’re definitely something you want to keep!
Most of us know that wearing sunglasses on a bright day is a great way to help prevent future eye damage down the road caused by too much UV exposure. But what else should you be doing?
Experts advise that you get a regular eye exam. Yes, even if everything looks and feels fine. Many serious eye diseases, while rare, don’t have any warning signs and a check-up is the only way to catch them.
Related: This is How Your Teen’s Eyes Could Reveal Their Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
It’s also a good idea to learn your family’s eye-health history. Does an eye disease like glaucoma run in your family? You can alert your eye doctor, and they can be on the lookout for it before it happens, and provide preventive measures.
You should also always protect your eyes at work and at play and, as mentioned above, don’t forget those shades. Look for a pair that blocks out at least 99% of both UVA and UVB radiation.
Last but not least, make sure you eat a healthy diet and get enough exercise on a regular basis. Foods like carrots, dark leafy vegetables, salmon, halibut and tuna are all good for your sight. Eat up and enjoy the view!
