Our eyes are responsible for one of the most important of the five senses - sight! We rely on our eyes to see and experience the world. If we don't care for them, poor vision health can lead to disease, damage, and even blindness. Let's explore five ways you can improve your eye health to ensure your vision stays in tip-top shape.
Schedule routine eye exams
Just like you make annual visits to your doctor or dentist, you should also prioritize seeing your optometrist for an eye examination. Even if you think you have 20-20 vision, eye exams do more than just monitor how well you can see; they can help detect changes in your overall health and various eye conditions. Because many eye conditions are asymptomatic in their early stages, it's important to schedule these eye exams annually to detect diseases before they worsen.
Vision insurance promotes positive eye health and helps you from paying high out-of-pocket rates on procedures not covered by your usual medical insurance. With our DeltaVision® plans, we can help cover vision care costs to keep your eyes healthy and support your overall health.
Avoid smoking to protect against diseases
Smoking can lead to the development of two severe eye conditions: age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts, both of which can lead to serious vision loss or blindness if left untreated. Individuals who smoke cigarettes are two to three times more likely to develop cataracts and up to four times more likely to develop AMD than those who don’t smoke.
Focus on nutrition to improve vision
What you eat also plays a huge role in your ocular health. A diet rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals can help better your vision and maintain quality eye health. Studies and observational data also suggest that diets containing optimal levels of vitamins C and E, lutein and zeaxanthin, and the daily use of multivitamin supplements can reduce the risk of cataracts. The next time you're at the grocery store, add a few foods from the list below to your cart.
- Lutein & Zeaxanthin: Spinach, kale, broccoli, and green peas
- Vitamin C: Oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, tomatoes
- Vitamin E: Sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, almonds, flaxseed oil
- Essential fatty acids: Salmon, tuna, sardines
- Zinc: Red meat, oysters, pumpkin seeds, peanuts
- Vitamin A: Liver, egg yolk, dairy products
Give your eyes a break
The average person spends seven hours a day staring at a screen.Unfortunately, by forcing your eyes to partake in such high visual demands, individuals are becoming susceptible to a digital eye strain known as computer vision syndrome. Because your eyes are working extra hard to make out words and images on the screen, the added strain can lead to long-lasting effects on your eye health, such as eye fatigue, dry and irritated eyes, loss of focus flexibility, nearsightedness, and retinal damage.
To help reduce any digital eye strain and improve eye health, The American Optometric Association recommends following the 20-20 rule, which states that every 20 minutes, you should take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away.
Protect your eyes from damage.
If you work in the labor industry, especially in jobs like construction, you may be prone to eye injuries from dust, penetration, heat, radiation, and various chemicals. Therefore, it's essential to follow certain precautions when on-site to protect your eyes from damage.
- Wear the right gear (goggles, safety glasses, or other eye protection)
- Restrict access to worksites during times when accidents are more likely to happen
- Undergo proper training
UV radiation from the sun is also to blame for the development of severe eye conditions like cataracts, macular degeneration, corneal sunburn, or even conjunctival cancers. Luckily, there are steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy while still enjoying the outdoors:
- Wear sunglasses even on cloudy days
- Choose sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB light
- Wear a three-inch brim hat
- Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher
Learn more about how Delta Dental’s vision benefits can support your eye health.
