Eye Health Explained

Modern life can be hard on the eyes, especially in this age of heavy computer and television use. Unfortunately, few people care about their eyes with the same care they give other parts of their body. To preserve the precious gift of sight and enjoy life, here are some eye-saving tips you should follow:

Get an eye check-up every 12 months regardless of your age. Go to an ophthalmologist regularly even if you don't use eyeglasses or have no problems whatsoever. Children should likewise have their eyes examined before starting kindergarten and after every few years. A lot of people think that if they can read well, they're fine but there may be unseen eye problems that require a doctors attention. Headaches, for example, may be the result of vision problems that strain the eyes.

If you wear over-the-counter (OTC) eyeglasses, that's also a good reason to see an ophthalmologist. Although they wont harm your eyes, OTC glasses wont correct astigmatism. Uncorrected vision problems can worsen and wont be helped by wearing corrective contact lenses or glasses that aren't right for you. See an eye doctor if your contacts don't feel right even if it hasn't been a year since your last visit. For people over 60 years of age, yearly eye exams are advised to detect cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration, a condition that reduces vision in the central part of the retina.

Wear sunglasses outside. This will protect your eyes from the suns ultraviolet (UV) rays that can cause cataracts and macular degeneration. Go for big lenses since they protect the eyes more but any style is okay as long as it blocks 98 percent of UV rays or more. For maximum protection, yellow and orange tinted lenses are recommended. Contrary to popular belief, light sunglasses can block UV rays too but dark glasses protect you more against bright sunlight.

Monitor your diabetes or you could suffer from diabetic retinopathy, a condition where high blood sugar damages the blood vessels behind the retina. The blood then leaks out into the retina and causes vision problems. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, get a yearly eye exam.