Our sight is something we sometimes take for granted. But according to, an advocacy group, approximately 4.4 million women aged 40 or older are either vision impaired or blind. It turns out that women are far more vulnerable to eye diseases, including macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. What’s more, less than 10 percent of women are aware of their increased risk.
That’s why the advocacy group has designated April Women’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month, making this the perfect time to learn more about risks and to get your eyes checked! Here are some things you can do to help ensure your eyes remain healthy.
Protect Your Eyes!
The saying, It’s all fun and games until someone gets an eye poked out, is actually highly relevant whether you’re playing sports, doing yard work, or doing an activity that creates a lot of small particles (like woodworking, for example). Even the smallest specks that get in can scratch your cornea (the outer layer of the eye) and cause long-lasting damage.
One of the most important and easiest things to do to prevent eye diseases is to protect them. That means getting polarized sunglasses that block both UV-A and UV-B rays, but also wearing a hat when outside. This will help to minimize the harmful risks caused by radiation from the sun.
Give Them a Rest
In today’s modern world, we’re surrounded by screens no matter where we go. This causes a lot of eye strain, where the muscles in our eyes get weak. Your eyes are muscles, too, and it’s necessary to continually exercise them just as you would with any other muscle. It’s good to follow the 20-20-20 rule: Take a break every 20 minutes or so, and look at something that’s about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Eat Foods that Boost Eye Health
Another old belief is that eating a lot of carrots is good for your eyesight. The funny thing is that it’s somewhat true. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which the body uses to manufacture Vitamin A, an essential vitamin that helps convert light into information in our brains. Vitamin A also helps in maintaining cornea thickness and strength. Other foods that promote good eye health include fish high in omega-3 fats (salmon, for example), nuts, seeds, and legumes, citrus fruit, and leafy green vegetables.
Schedule a visit with one of our pain management locations to get a personalized plan to help ensure your eyes stay young, even as you age.
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