How Should Eyecare Change As We Age?

As you age, you will notice changes in your vision. These are common. They should not alarm you, but that does not mean you should not be mindful of them. Take care of your vision since it is the first way you interact with your environment and one of the senses we rely on most.

 

Some Changes to Expect

Some of the changes you should expect as you age are:

 

• Distinguishing between colors

• Seeing objects at a distance

• Reading the fine print

• Glare sensitivity

• Dry eyes

• Floaters or spots in your vision
  
   

Tips for Eyecare As You Age

Age-related changes can be frustrating. They may require you to modify various aspects of your daily life which can be difficult to adjust to. You will need to update and change your eyecare routine to avoid this and ensure you maintain your lifestyle. Here are some tips to help you keep up with eye care.

Stop Smoking

Smoking increases free radicals in your eyes. These radicals damage the proteins and lipids, leaving deposits on the surface. It can accelerate the onset of age-related eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration.

You may consume antioxidants to help you fight the free radicals, but they can still overwhelm them. They can kill the antioxidants and produce toxins that speed up age-related eye diseases.

 

Make Smart Food Choices

You will need to change your diet and make good food choices. Add more fruits, vegetables, salmon, oily fish, and nuts to your diet. Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants. These help to fight the free radicals that speed up the onset of age-related eye diseases.

 

Essential fatty acids in salmon and oily fish maintain retinal and proper eye function. Thus, consuming them lets you slow down and mitigate age-related eye diseases.

 

Wearing Sunglasses

As you age, invest in a good pair of sunglasses. These will protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. The more you expose your eyes to these rays from the sun, the faster the onset of age-related eye diseases. The best sunglasses block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. The best kind of glasses is wraparound lenses. These protect your eyes from every side.

Rest Your Eyes

Take time away from your computer and rest your eyes. Apply the 20-20-20 rule. It states that for every 20 minutes you spend on your computer, take a rest and look away at an object 20 feet away. Look around for 20 seconds to relax and exercise your eye muscles. They are also aging and may not have as much strength as before.

Regular Eye Checkups

The frequency of your eye checkups needs to increase as you age. From age 40 to 60, you need to go for checkups every year. These checkups will help your eye doctor detect any age-related eye diseases early before they damage your vision.

It makes it easier to treat and mitigate vision loss. Make sure the checkups are comprehensive, not only for distance vision. Comprehensive eye exams will detect age-related eye diseases and inform you about other health issues.

For more information on eyecare as you age, contact Optique Vision at our Albany, New York office. Call (518) 302-2106 to schedule an appointment today.