The future is looking bleak, especially when it comes to eye health. The prognosis is startling: By the year 2050, an estimated 895 million individuals worldwide may have various eye conditions, as reported by The Lancet. To put it into perspective, this is a 150% increase over the next three decades.
For those in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s, eye disease and vision care may not be at the forefront of their concerns. However, now is the best time to take proactive measures to prevent the risks of potential vision loss in the future. Contrary to popular belief, most eye problems are preventable through the adoption of simple yet impactful healthy habits.
What are eye conditions expected to increase? It is difficult to explain, but there is no doubt that this is a sign you need to implement preventive measures from an early age. There are some obvious culprits, such as the prevalence of digital screens in our daily lives and environmental factors contributing to eye strain. Besides, the risk factors for developing conditions that can worsen eye diseases have increased dramatically, such as when it comes to diabetes. Truth be told, we can’t afford to ignore it anymore.
So, it is time to prioritize eye health now. There is no doubt that you could stave off the onset of debilitating eye conditions later in life and preserve your quality of life and independence well into your golden years. What can proactive prevention measures do for your eye health? From reducing the likelihood of cataracts and macular degeneration to avoiding preventable injuries, there’s a lot to be said for taking a safer approach.
In essence, the time to think about eye health is not tomorrow—it’s today for Gen Z and Millennials. Are you ready to get started?
Know your family medical history
Your family medical history can reveal a lot and give you the ammunition you need to protect yourself. So, when it comes to eye health, you definitely want to research your family history of eye conditions for proactive eye care.
What do you need to keep in mind when examining your family medical history? So, you want to understand genetic predispositions as this can help you prepare for early detection.
Which conditions should you monitor in priority? The list includes glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts, as they often have a hereditary component and can significantly impact vision if left untreated.
Bear in mind that conditions such as myopia or astigmatism could also affect your eye health. However, being shortsighted because one of your parents is is a manageable and non-dangerous condition.
Protect your eyes from screens
Nowadays, we all work on a screen, and most of us spend close to 16 hours or more watching screens of different sizes all day long. The truth is that prolonged exposure to screens poses significant risks to eye health, including digital eye strain, dryness, and discomfort. This may not seem like much, but eye dryness could also lead to risk of corneal damage and vision loss when left untreated.
So, if you are familiar with the 20-20-20 rule, it’s time to implement it seriously: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break, and focus on something 20 feet away to reduce eye strain. You can also adjust screen settings to minimize glare and ensure proper lighting in your workspace.
You might find using blue light filters or computer glasses helpful to reduce eye strain.
Wear eye protection for work and hobbies
If you are an enthusiastic DIY builder or if you frequently work with potentially harmful products, you can’t afford to skip eye protection. Protecting your eyes from potential injuries or accidents is essential.
What does eye protection look like? Appropriate eye protection can be wearing safety goggles or glasses to shield your eyes from debris, chemicals, or impact-related injuries.
Naturally, different activities require specific types of eye protection; for example, construction sites may necessitate goggles with side shields, while chemical environments may require goggles with sealed frames. Sports like hockey or racquetball need protective eyewear designed to withstand impact.
Wear sunglasses outdoors
Sunglasses are not just a fashionable accessory. They serve a purpose too! UV rays can lead to risks to eye health, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and photokeratitis (sunburn of the cornea). So, when we say to always wear sunglasses, we mean to ensure your eyes receive 100% UV protection when you are outdoors.
As a rule of thumb, you should look for sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. If you are someone who enjoys outdoor activities, such as hiking or cycling, it can be a good idea to invest in a wraparound style to prevent sunlight from entering from the sides.
How to care for your contact lenses
Are you a contact lens wearer? Contact lenses are often more convenient than glasses, but they require adequate care to keep your eyes health. Poor hygiene practices, such as sleeping in lenses, using expired solutions, or failing to clean and disinfect lenses properly, are among the most common causes of eye health complications.
So, you want to look after your contact lenses to maintain optimal eye health. Thankfully, best care practices are simple enough: Wash hands thoroughly before handling lenses, replace lenses as prescribed, clean and disinfect them regularly with recommended solutions, and avoid water exposure while wearing lenses.
Schedule regular eye check-ups
Regular eye check-ups are essential for maintaining optimal eye health, even if you have good eyesight. Your eye doctor can detect and address potential issues early, preventing complications and preserving vision.
How often should you have a comprehensive eye exam? It depends on your existing health conditions, but a yearly check is a good base to start. Your doctor can do a lot more than just assessing visual acuity. They can screen for refractive errors, examines eye structures for signs of diseases like glaucoma or macular degeneration, and checks for any changes in prescription.
Be careful with makeup
Sharing makeup, particularly eye products like mascara or eyeliners, is a big NOPE when it comes to eye health. Sharing makeup increases the likelihood of transferring harmful bacteria between individuals, which is the open door to any eye infections.
Another no-go is when makeup expires or becomes contaminated with bacteria, as it can cause irritation, redness, and even infections like conjunctivitis or styes.
Left untreated, these infections can lead to more severe eye conditions, such as corneal ulcers or chronic inflammation, potentially causing long-term damage to vision. All this for the sake of saving some bucks on makeup? Save yourself the troubles, it’s not worth the risks!
Pregnancy eye care
Pregnancy can bring about various changes in eye health due to hormonal fluctuations and increased fluid retention. Minor changes may include dry eyes, blurred vision, or changes in prescription. More often than not, things go back to normal post-pregnancy.
However, more severe conditions like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia can also affect ocular health. So, it is important to monitor eye changes during pregnancy. You don’t want untreated conditions to lead to complications. It is worth mentioning that your doctor may suggest early delivery if they believe that this is the best solution to protect your eyes. So, pregnancy eye conditions can get really serious!
Maintain a healthy diet
Maintaining a healthy diet is nothing new and it is something that plays a role in preserving your overall health. But what does it mean in terms of eye health? You want foods rich in vitamins C and E, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein that can help protect against age-related eye conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts. Incorporate leafy greens, citrus fruits, nuts, seeds, and oily fish into your diet to ensure an adequate intake of these essential nutrients.
Additionally, foods high in antioxidants and beta-carotene, such as carrots and sweet potatoes, can promote overall eye health.
Vitamin D, a favorite for strong bones, also supports corneal wound healing, so it’s worth keeping this hard-working nutrient in your diet!
Exercise regularly
Working out regularly has many benefits for your overall health. So, of course, it can also benefit your eye health. Moderate physical activity promotes better circulation, including to the eyes, which can help maintain optimal intraocular pressure and reduce the risk of conditions like glaucoma.
Besides, exercise supports overall cardiovascular health, keeping conditions like hypertension at bay. Let’s not forget that an active lifestyle means better weight management, so you can avoid risks of obesity-related eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy.
Quit smoking
It’s no novelty that smoking is not the best of habits to develop. Smoking can pose severe risks to your health, this includes your eye health too.
The harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage the delicate blood vessels in the eyes, so you have a higher risk of developing sight-threatening conditions such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy.
Smoking also increases the likelihood of developing optic nerve damage, contributing to conditions like glaucoma.
Besides, smoking reduces the flow of oxygen to the eyes, so you are more prone to dry eye syndrome.
Manage chronic health conditions
Last but not least, you can’t ignore chronic health conditions. Some chronic health conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure, can have a significant impact on eye health if left unmonitored.
Hopefully, these few tips can help you keep an eye on your eyes and ensure the future remains bright and clear. Friends, how will you impliment these posting tips at home? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
