We’ve all heard the saying-“Take Care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.”

A similar saying stands true for your eyesight.  Your eyes are the only pair that you have, so it’s so important that you take care of them.

A comprehensive dilated eye exam can tell you so much about your overall health allowing your ophthalmologist to detect damage or disease. It is the only way to detect diseases that may have no warning signs in their early stages, such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration.

Here are a few simple steps for maintaining healthy eyes:

Family Eye Health History:

Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary. This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.

Maintain a Healthy Weight:

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.

Eat Right:

Eat right to protect your sight. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too. Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.

Wear Your Shades:

Not all sunglasses are created equal! While they are a great fashion accessory, their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. Our amazing optical team is here to help!