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Save Your Vision Month: 5 Tips for Healthy Eyes

Happy Save Your Vision Month! This national holiday aims to promote awareness and education about good eye care. With over a quarter of Americans ages 71 and over experiencing vision limitations, March is a wonderful opportunity for seniors to book an appointment with an optometrist and expand their knowledge of eye health.

Want to keep your peepers healthy for years to come? Keep reading to learn five actionable eye care tips for seniors.

1. Eat Right

As with all other parts of your body, optimal eye health starts on your plate. Seniors should consume plenty of nutrients to keep their vision sharp, like zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, and vitamins C and E.

Some foods that support good eye health include:

Oily fish, like tuna or salmon
Green leafy veggies, including kale, spinach, and collards
Non-meat proteins, such as beans and nuts
Citrusy fruits, like oranges
Pork and oysters

Healthy eating habits also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. This is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

2. Shield Your Eyes from the Sun

The sun’s UV rays can not only damage your skin, but they can harm your eyes. Always wear UV-coated sunglasses if you’re planning to spend time outdoors. The best sunglasses to wear block out 100% of UVB and UVA rays. Wear a wide-brimmed hat for extra protection.

3. Give Your Eyes a Break

Your eyes work hard all day long. Like you, they need a rest. Staring at backlit screens for too long can strain your eyes and cause dry eyes, blurry vision, headaches, and difficulty focusing at a distance.

Take a 30-second break from the screen every 20 minutes or so. Get up every two hours and move your body. You should also have your screen at eye level and use a supportive, comfortable chair.

Ensure your room is brightly lit. Inadequate lighting increases eye strain.

4. Wear the Right Prescription Glasses

Your doctor prescribed contact lenses or glasses to you for a reason. Always wear your prescription glasses to reduce further eye problems, including strain Do you think you need a stronger prescription because you still have blurry vision when wearing glasses? Book an appointment with your optometrist.

5. Schedule Regular Eye Exams

Just like your primary physician, you should visit your optometrist annually. Regular screenings reduce the risk of age-related eye problems, including glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.

Depending on your eye health, consider seeing an ophthalmologist. These doctors specialize in general eye care, eye diseases, and surgeries. Some good eye health care providers in the Whitefish Bay area include Milwaukee Eye Surgeons, Herslof Optical Company, and Target Optical.

Keep Your Eyes in Tip-Top Shape

Need a lift to your optometrist appointment? Right at Home of Whitefish Bay, WI, can help! Our in-home personal caregivers can drive you to appointments. They can also assist with cooking, light housekeeping, medication management, and more.

Shawn McComb

I’m Shawn McComb and I’m the Owner of Right at Home in the Milwaukee area. Along with my wife Lisa, we’ve operated our locally-owned Home Care business for over 7 years. Combined, we have more than 40 years of experience in the medical and non-care medical healthcare industry. Our team offers a wide range of in-home Personal, Companion, and Respite and Transportation services to clients, by caregivers who are bonded, insured, background checked and drug screened. We provide care in client’s homes, Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care communities. Our operating standards and culture are centered around providing best-in-class care. Caregivers go through a comprehensive set of training modules to assure that their competencies meet our client’s needs. We welcome the opportunity to serve you!