Health Guide: How to Preserve the Health of Your Eyes

Your eyes are your windows to the world and key bodily components for interacting with it. As you age, you might experience some problems with them, just as many people do. Many eye conditions sound scary, however advancements in eye treatment have come a long way. Here is a list of the most common eye concerns, explained simply. I’ve also gathered some tips on how to improve your eye health in your day-to-day life, which you can see by scrolling down to the end. 

Presbyopia - The loss of the ability to see close objects or small print. This is a natural process that happens to everyone. It’s only noticeable after the age of 40, and is fairly easy to correct with reading glasses. Prescriptions for them are not needed in most instances, and they can be bought over the counter at a pharmacy.

Floaters - These are the tiny spots that often float in your line of vision. They don’t usually cause any harm and are fairly normal. If they are accompanied by flashes, this indicates a more serious problem and you should go to an ophthalmologist.

Dry eyes - This is when your tear glands are not producing quality tears, causing uncomfortable itching and burning. This condition can be caused by medication, contacts, weather conditions or hormonal changes. A doctor might recommend using a humidifier or artificial tears, having plugs placed in the tear ducts to lessen tear drainage, or Lipiflow, a new procedure using heat and pressure.

Tearing -The opposite of dry eyes, you might experience an excess of tears. Often light sensitivity, wind, and temperature changes affect the eyes. Sometimes tearing can be prevented by wearing sunglasses. It might also indicate a more serious condition like a blocked tear duct or an infection. In both cases, a doctor can help treat this problem.

Eyelid problems - The eyelid's job is to protect the eye, distribute tears and control the amount of light entering it. Sometimes they droop, have blinking spasms, develop sties, or the outer edges near the eyelashes become inflamed. Eyelids might experience pain, itching, tearing and sensitivity to light. These problems can be treated with medication, proper cleaning or surgery.

Cataracts  - One of the most common eye problems associated with aging. Proteins in the eye can cluster and form a cloud over the lens. These formations cause no pain and usually do not alter vision. If they grow large or thick, they can block light from entering the eye. They can be removed with surgery.

Glaucoma - A disease associated with increased eye pressure, which can damage the optic nerve and cause loss of vision. Glaucoma can be treated with prescription eye drops or surgery. Because there are no symptoms or initial pain, it's important to have your eyes regularly checked by an eye doctor, despite it being a less common eye condition.

Corneal diseases - The cornea is the dome-shaped front of the eye, which helps transmit and focus light. The cornea can become damaged by disease, infection, injury and exposure to toxic agents. The eye will become red, watery, and experience pain. One might also have reduced vision and experience the halo effect. Corneal disease can be treated with medicated eye drops, prescription glasses or by surgery.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) - This is when the tissue lining the eyelids and covering the cornea becomes inflamed. The eye becomes red, itches, burns, tears and has discharge. Sometimes it feels as if something is in the eye. Conjunctivitis is caused by infection, exposure to chemicals or irritants and allergies. It can be treated with medicated drops, warm compresses or lubricating drops to make the eye more comfortable.

Retinal disorders - The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It changes visual images into to nerve signals, which are sent to the brain. Diseases of the retina disrupt nerve signal transfer and can cause vision impairment. It’s important to have your eyes tested regularly to catch any problem early, receive treatment and prevent vision loss.

1. Visit the eye doctor, even if you have good vision

Part of good eye health is going to the eye doctor regularly. People who have good eyesight often neglect visiting the eye doctor. It’s important to regularly have your eyes inspected by an ophthalmologist so they can detect even slight changes in your eyes health. The health of your eyes connects to other systematic health issues.

2. Eat for good vision

The old saying that carrots are good for the eyes has some truth in it. Choosing foods high in antioxidants and nutrients lowers the risk for eye diseases. Choose foods rich in lutein, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin C and E. The recommended foods are leafy greens, cold water fish, nuts, beans, eggs, soy, and fruit with dark skin (i.e. berries, cherries, grapes). Citrus fruits, avocado, broccoli, and tea are also healthy choices.

3. Protective eye wear

Your eyes can easily be damaged by the sun and hazardous materials. Wearing sunglasses and protective goggles are a good start. If you wear glasses, you should get your lenses coated with an anti-reflective layer to minimize glare. UV rays also reflect off water, sand and snow, so it’s important to wear sunglasses if you're faced with these instances. Make sure your sunglasses protect against both UVA and UBV rays, and are ranked as category 2 at least.

4. Take your contacts out

Your eyes need exposure to oxygen. If you wear contacts during the day, make sure it is for no more than 19 hours. Wearing them longer can cause eye irritation and dryness.

5. Good rules for computer (and other) screen time

If you spend a lot of your day looking at a computer screen, employ the 20-20-20 rule. Rest your eyes every 20 minutes, looking 20 feet (6 meters) in front of you for 20 seconds. It’s also a good idea to make sure your eyes are level with the screen, and that you are blinking often. People blink less when they are staring at a computer screen.

6. Remove eye makeup

Wearing mascara, eye liner and eye shadow can clog up the pores around your eyes. This can cause eye irritation and sties. A good idea is to keep makeup wipes next to your bed so that you don’t forget to wipe off your makeup before bed.

7. Control the air environment

Many offices and homes have dry air and this can irritate the eye and cause dryness. Installing a humidifier can solve this problem. A more organic way to release moisture into the air is by placing bowls of water around a room.