Schedule an appointment New Year’s Goals for an Eye Healthy 2024
Posted by: The Eye Center of North Florida in News & Community, December 19, 2023
As we wave goodbye to 2023, let’s leap into 2024 with positive vibrations for a healthy year ahead. The New Year is a time to start fresh and renew our commitment to health, happiness, and success. It’s important to include eye health and safety in these resolutions. Listed below are a few ways to prioritize your eye health for 2024.
Schedule an eye exam for each member of your family.
A comprehensive eye exam will ensure that your vision is at its best, and we will also screen for any eye disease or issues with your eye health. Early detection is essential for the treatment and preservation of eyesight.
Protect your eyes from the sun all year round.
Harmful UV and HEV (high-energy visible) radiation from the sun, and potentially from computer screens and digital devices, have been linked to severe eye conditions, including macular degeneration, cataracts, and non-cancerous and cancerous growths in the eye and eyelids. Wear sunglasses that are 100% protective of these harmful rays outdoors. Indoor clear lens coatings are now available to protect from HEV light.
Know your eye health risk factors.
Knowing who is at risk and catching the signs early are essential to preventing common vision-threatening diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy. Knowing your family history, race, gender, and lifestyle and how those factors can contribute to eye diseases can help your eye doctor keep a close eye on any signs of eye disease before it is too late.
Use proper eye protection.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the emergency rooms treat more than 700,000 work-related eye injuries, 125,000 eye injuries occur at home, and 40,000 sports-related eye injuries annually. Almost all of these eye injuries can be avoided with proper eye protection. Speak to your eye doctor about your work, hobbies, and athletic activities to determine the best protective eyewear for your needs.
Add eye-healthy foods to your regular diet.
Foods rich in vitamins and antioxidants play an essential role in the health of your eyes. Research shows that a proper diet can reduce the risk of macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye problems. Include foods to your plate that are rich in beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin (such as spinach, kale, red/orange peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash), bioflavonoids (such as tea, red wine, citric fruits, blueberries, cherries, legumes, soy products), Omega-3 Fatty Acids (cold-water fish, ground flaxseeds, walnuts) and fruits, vegetables and other foods rich in vitamins A, C and D. Zinc is also linked to eye health and found in foods such as oysters, beef and dark meat turkey.
We Wish You and Your Family a Happy and Healthy New Year!
