Coronavirus has all of us feeling a little on edge about seeing our doctors. It’s all the more reason to make a long-term commitment to foster healthier habits — many of which will improve your overall eye health, too.
Here are a number of tips to help you maintain healthy vision and take better care of your body and eyes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic (and beyond).
6 Tips for Maintaining Healthy Vision Everyday
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has some important tips for good vision.
- Wearing sunglasses with both Ultraviolet A and B protection can delay the development of cataracts, help prevent retinal damage and protect the eyelid skin and eye from cancer.
- If you’re a smoker, now is the time to quit. Smoking increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.
- Eating right with an emphasis on vegetables can help maintain retinal function.
- It is vital to wear proper eye protection to prevent eye injuries during sports and when working on home projects.
- The AAO also advises patients to follow instructions for proper care and use of contact lenses.
- Eye fatigue is common with computer use. Follow the 10-20-20 rule: Look up from your work every 20 minutes at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
3 Tips for When to See Your Eye Doctor
These last few tips involve when you should see your eye doctor.
- Adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease should get a baseline eye disease screening at age 40.
- Most serious eye conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and AMD are more easily and successfully treated when diagnosed early.
- Any change in your vision should be a signal to see your eye doctor.
If you’re in central New Jersey and in need of an experienced eye doctor, consider Dr. Robert Scharfman. His care is second to none.
Contact us to schedule an appointment. We’re open and ready to assist you safely during these times of social distancing.
That’s a good idea to get an eye exam as you get older. I have heard that your eyes get worse as you get older, so it would be good to know if you would need glasses or anything like that. I’ll make sure to go to see an eye doctor as I get older.
My mom has recently mentioned that she has noticed a slight decrease in her vision. I appreciate you saying that a sign that you need to visit an eye doctor is if there is any change in eyesight. I will have to recommend that my mom find a reputable eye doctor to help her.