Eye health: prevention to avoid diseases – Cataracts, damage to the retina and other very serious pathologies such as melanomas or macular degeneration. These are some of the problems that your eyes can suffer. Preventing eye health is essential for good eye care and we don’t always give it the attention it deserves.
ONCE warns that many serious vision problems can be avoided simply with adequate prevention . For this reason, eye check-ups are necessary to be able to keep track of eye health and anticipate possible eye diseases . This blog from JLR Eye Hospital will give you tips for preventing eye diseases.
What is eye health?
Ocular health is the absence of diseases of the eye and structure of the eyes . In addition, it also consists of preserving visual acuity over time. Even so, the progressive loss of a certain degree of sharpness when we see is natural. Like the skin, joints or muscles, the eyes also age over time.
However, many of the habits we carry out accelerate the degeneration of sight and end up deteriorating our eye health. The most frequent eye health pathologies are myopia, farsightedness and astigmatism.
And that’s where optometrist opticians come into play! These eye health experts are able to implement specific treatments to curb eyestrain, sharpen visual acuity, and treat eye diseases.
Tips to improve eye health and prevent diseases
Paediatric and routine reviews
The best way to preserve optimal eye health and prevent vision from ageing rapidly is to go for check-ups with a specialist. But, how often do you have to go to the ophthalmologist?
- Breastfeeding- During the first weeks of the newborn, you should already go for a first review with the ophthalmologist. In it, it will be verified that the formation of the eye develops correctly. Remember that premature children are at higher risk of developing abnormalities in their eye health!
- Childhood- Between the ages of 2 and 5, it is advisable to make another visit with the expert, especially if the child is developing a vision defect from an early age!
- Adolescence- From the age of 12, it is recommended to visit a specialist at least every 2 years if you have any disease. Even so, at these ages, prolonged exposure to screens is inevitable. Therefore, it is worth doing a small routine review every three years to protect your eye health.
- Adulthood- It is advisable to have at least two comprehensive eye exams before reaching the age of 40 and complete it with more routine check-ups.
- From the age of 65– At these ages, the prevention of eye health is especially important. Be sure to see a specialist to improve eye health once a year. Macular degeneration or cataracts are frequent at these ages and prompt intervention in time will prevent you from losing vision.
Glasses and graduation
A good prevention to avoid eye diseases goes through prescription glasses in some cases. Thanks to the reviews, the eye doctor will be able to determine if you should correct your vision.
Ophthalmologists usually keep a clinical record of each revision to be able to carry out a long-term analysis. That is why going to the same clinic or entity is usually a good idea for prevention. Some insurers have plans for routine check -ups with physicians in different clinics where they can check your vision.
Sunglasses, from what age?
Solar radiation is one of the worst enemies of eye health . Therefore, good sunglasses will prevent ultraviolet rays from damaging the eyes. Also, there is no minimum age to wear them! Whenever you go out and expose yourself to the sun, protect yourself with glasses.
Feeding
Diet also plays a vital role in protecting the eyes . Zinc , vitamins A, C and E or omega-3 acid are capable of slowing down macular degeneration . Be sure to include products such as oily fish, carrots, citrus fruits, eggs, asparagus, nuts or oysters in your diet.
Daily eye hygiene
Keeping your eyes hydrated will help you maintain good daily eye hygiene. If you feel tired or dry eyesight, artificial tears will help restore your eyes and hydrate them! Also, avoid touching them before washing your hands, as the germs could lead to infections.
Main eye diseases
The main eye diseases and also more serious are cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and diseases of the cornea and retina. Specifically, macular degeneration is associated with age, with a higher incidence after 60 years of age.
Some others, although less common such as eye cancer , are especially dangerous due to their ability to make the rest of the body sick. It can occur on the external parts, such as the eyelids or inside. The problem with eye cancer is that cancer cells can reach other parts of the body if they metastasize.
For its part, glaucoma or silent blindness consists of progressive damage to the optic nerve . It is characterised by loss of vision and is generally caused by an increase in the internal pressure of the eye. The cornea is another element of eye health that you must take care of, as it can suffer from diseases such as ulcers, keratitis or dystrophies.
Habits that you should avoid to take care of your eyes
Digital screens
The continued use of screens and mobile phones increases the ageing of the eyes very rapidly. Specifically, the ultraviolet light emitted by these devices causes dry eyes, whereby the tear glands are unable to keep the eye lubricated.
Make sure you don’t place the television at home less than two metres from the sofa. If you usually work in front of a computer, keep a distance of half a metre from the screen and use a protective filter.
Tobacco
Tobacco smoke causes the eye to lose moisture . Over time, you may feel them become irritated until they sting. Also, remember that it’s not just smokers who get it! If you are a passive smoker, try not to be in contact with smoke for a long time. To counteract the harmful effects on eye health, the use of artificial tears is recommended .
Air-conditioning
In the same way, air conditioning dries out the corneas , among other problems. Do you know all the consequences it has for our health ? You will be surprised at the damages of being exposed for a long time!
Contact lenses
Contact lenses can be a source of infections that lead to eye diseases. As part of healthy eye habits, don’t forget to always carry a clean case . If you put on makeup, it is common for some residue to fall. Keep them so they do not come into contact with the product.
Don’t strain your eyes
One of the most effective healthy eye habits is learning to relax your eye . In this way, you will avoid forcing it and you will keep tired eyes at bay. Try not to keep your eyes on the same object for more than 30 minutes. To do this, remember to change the focus frequently . It will help you release eye strain!
The importance of treatments and prevention
Many of the aforementioned diseases are irreversible, so early detection will be essential to stop their progress . You probably know that depending on the disease the treatment will be more or less invasive. For example, some serious eye diseases can be treated with glasses and a correct prescription of the lenses.
On the other hand, periodic reviews and prevention are essential to keep your eye health in good condition. In fact, having the support of health insurance can be a great help.