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5 Ways to Naturally Take Care of Your Eyesight
Every day we spend hours looking at small images on televisions, computers, and phones, leading to eye fatigue and an increased risk of future vision problems. However, that doesn’t mean that weakened eyesight is inevitable. The tips below offer five all-natural strategies for keeping your eyes sharp and healthy.
Adjust Your Diet
Nutrition plays an important role in the health of your eyesight. Foods rich in beta-carotene, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, and berries are excellent choices, as are any foods that contain significant amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids. Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of staying hydrated–drinking more water can provide relief for eyes that are dry, tired, or blurry.
Protect Your Eyes
If you spend large amounts of time outdoors, consider bringing along a hat or a pair of sunglasses with UV protection. The sun’s rays can dry out and damage your retinas, causing your eyesight to deteriorate over time. If you work or spend time in an environment where you might be exposed to sparks, splinters, dust, metal shavings, or projectiles, make sure to wear safety goggles that are rated to withstand any potential accidents.
Take Regular Breaks
Your eyes need rest to avoid drying out and becoming sore. When reading books, watching television, playing video games, or using a computer, take a 10-minute break each hour to close your eyes or look at something else. This gives your eyes time to adjust and recuperate, preventing excess strain that could lead to worsening vision.
Exercise Your Eyes
Just like other muscles, you can give your eyes a workout to improve your vision over time. One common eye exercise is to hold up a finger at arm’s length, focus on it for 10 seconds, and then focus on something behind it for another 10 seconds. Trying to focus on faraway objects is also a great way to train your eyes; the key is to give your eyes some variety in terms of size, shape, and distance, especially if your job or daily routine requires you to look at a screen for hours each day.
Avoid the Strain
In addition to taking breaks, there are a number of ways that you can reduce the strain you put on your eyes. Bright lights are one the biggest sources of eye stress, so avoid watching television or using a computer in a dark room whenever possible. You can also turn down the brightness on your computer screen during the day, though it’s important to avoid turning it down so low that it becomes difficult to read. Consider opening your blinds and using natural sunlight instead of lamps or artificial lights, which are harsher on your eyes.
Diminished eyesight is a natural part of the aging process, but the good news is that you can stay one step ahead by taking steps to strengthen and protect your vision. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your eyes get the rest and exercise necessary to stay in top shape.
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Understanding Farsightedness
Summary: Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a common condition that affects the ability of the eye to focus at close range. Farsightedness is most commonly corrected with glasses or contacts. Laser surgery is an option, but with varying results.
Eye Health: Options for Treating Farsightedness
Affecting anywhere from 10-25% of the adult population, farsightedness is an eye condition that can cause headaches, severe eye strain, and fatigue when performing close-up work such as reading for long periods of time, writing, drawing, or working on the computer.
What is Farsightedness?
Also called hyperopia, farsightedness is characterized by the inability to focus on objects at close range. Like nearsightedness and astigmatism, farsightedness is caused by a refractive error. Instead of light rays hitting the retina directly like they are supposed to, incoming light rays incorrectly bend causing a convergence behind the retina instead of on the retina. This incorrect refraction of light is often caused by abnormally flat corneas or small eyeballs – both of which are inherited characteristics. Farsightedness can also develop with age as eye muscles lose the flexibility to focus at close range.
Common Remedies for Farsightedness
Fortunately, there are ways to correct farsightedness.
- For some, controlling high blood pressure. High blood pressure affects every area of the body including the eyes. Pressure can build in the eyes causing farsightedness as well as other eye conditions. Sometimes mild farsightedness can be corrected by simply lowering blood pressure.
- Eye glasses or contacts lenses. Corrective lenses are widely used to correct farsightedness. Many people only where their glasses when doing close-up work. Some hyperopes find that contacts offer them a better vision alternative than glasses by giving them a wider field of view.
Surgical Procedures
Correcting farsightedness with surgery is a little more complicated than correcting nearsightedness. In addition, although hyperopia surgery is generally considered successful, long-term results vary widely. Some common surgical procedures for hyperopia are as follows:
- PRK. Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a procedure that is performed using a laser to remove a thin layer of tissue from the cornea. This procedure refocuses the light entering the eye and hitting the retina. Because there are limits to how much corneal tissue can be removed safely, results from PRK surgery vary according to degree of farsightedness.
- Hyperopia LASIK. This surgical procedure removes tissue from the internal layers of the cornea. The outer layers of the cornea are cut and folded back to expose the inner layers. A laser beam is then utilized to remove the inner corneal tissue. Like PRK, the range of sight correction is dictated by the amount of corneal tissue that can be safely removed.
Farsightedness, also referred to as hyperopia, is a common eye condition that affects a large portion of the population. Many cases of farsightedness are due to inherited factors, but the risk of developing this condition increases with age as the eye muscles lose their flexibility which is essential for focusing on images at close range. In fact, about 50% of those people that are over 65 years of age have some degree of farsightedness. Most people who have hyperopia are fitted with corrective lenses or contacts. Other options include a number of procedures using various laser technologies.
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June is Cataract Awareness Month
Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in Americans 65 and older and the principal cause of blindness in the world. In fact, there are more cases of cataracts worldwide than there are of glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy combined.
Facts about Cataracts
- A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens of the eye, the same part of the eye responsible for focusing light and enabling you to see clear images.
- Aside from the normal aging process, additional causes for developing cataracts include: eye injury; systemic conditions such as diabetes; the use of certain medications; long-term unprotected sun exposure; smoking; and a family history of cataracts.
- Symptoms can include: blurry vision; sensitivity to light, glare; fading of colors; difficulty reading; double vision; and frequent changes in prescription of eyeglasses or contact lenses.
- Small cataracts may not cause any noticeable symptoms. As cataracts progress, they cause limitations in the activities of daily living such as reading, driving, and watching TV.
- The condition can be treated with surgery by removing the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial lens implant. This surgery is easily tolerated and performed at an outpatient setting.
- Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed medical procedures in the United States, with more than three million surgeries performed each year.
Your decision on where to go for cataract surgery should not be made lightly because not all cataract procedures are the same. The practice you choose should offer world-class surgeons and state-of-the-art technology. At Eye Center of Texas our cataract surgeons, Dr. Mark Mayo and Dr. Edward Wade have years of experience, offer the safest, most-advanced cataract surgical techniques and technology that allows us to personalize a procedure that will be just right for your eyes.
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Smoking is BAD for Your Vision
Smoking increases your risks for eye disease, including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. And the more a person smokes, the higher the risks. The good news is that after people quit smoking, their risks for these eye diseases becomes almost as low as for people who never smoked.
Smoking also raises the risks for cardiovascular diseases that indirectly influence your eyes’ health. And tobacco smoke, including second-hand smoke, is an irritant that worsens dry eye.
Smoking increases the risk of serious vision loss in people with other eye diseases. And when women smoke during pregnancy they are more likely to give birth prematurely, putting their babies at higher risk for a potentially blinding disease called retinopathy of prematurity as well as other health problems.
One of the safest things to do for your vision? Never start smoking at all.
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Stay in Shape to Protect Your Eyes
Diet and lifestyle choices can directly affect your eyes. May is Healthy Vision Month and the best way to take care of your eyes is to look after your overall health and get annual eye exams. Exercising, eating right and stop smoking are three of the best investments you can make in your vision.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology encourages you to find ways to be healthier, so your vision will last a lifetime. Making healthy choices and getting regular eye exams can help reduce the risk of getting some eye diseases and can reduce vision loss or slow down the disease if you do have age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.
- Make Eye-Healthly Food Choices: A diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains benefits the entire body, including the eyes. Studies show that foods rich in vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin are good for eye health. These nutrients are linked to lower risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and dry eye later in life. Eye-healthy food choices include citrus fruits, vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables and cold water fish.
- Quit Smoking: Avoiding smoking and second hand smoke — or quitting, for current smokers — are some of the best investments everyone can make for long-term eye health. Smoking increases risk for eye diseases like cataract and age-related macular degeneration and raises the risks for cardiovascular diseases that indirectly influence eyes’ health. Tobacco smoke, including second-hand smoke, also worsens dry eye.
- Maintain Normal Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Glucose Levels: High blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose (sugar) levels all increase the risk of vision loss from an eye disease. Keeping these under control will not only help one’s eyes but also overall health.
- Get Regular Physical Activity: Not only does 30 minutes of exercise a day benefit one’s heart, waistline and energy level, it can also do the eyes a world of good! Many eye diseases are linked to other health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol levels.
- Know the Symptoms of Vision Loss: Signs of vision loss may become apparent as reading, writing, shopping, watching television, driving a car and/or recognizing faces become more difficult. Vision loss that may be noticed by friends and family include missing, bumping into or knocking over objects, stepping hesitantly, and squinting or tilting the head when trying to focus.
- Get Regular Eye Exams: Adults age 65 and over should get a medical eye exam every one-to-two years. Regular eye exams are crucial in detecting changes in vision, which may be a symptom of a treatable eye disease or condition.
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May is Healthy Vision Month
Healthy Vision Month is a great time to learn more about eye health and how important regular comprehensive dilated eye exams are to maintaining healthy vision.
Early detection of eye disease is the key to preventing vision loss and blindness. Many people who are at risk for vision loss do not know it, and millions of people in the United States have undetected vision problems and eye diseases and conditions.
Are You At Risk?
Eyesight has a huge impact on day-to-day living and is one of the senses most fear losing most. Unfortunately, many people often do not pay attention to their eye health unless they notice a problem.
Many common eye diseases that can lead to vision loss and blindness, such as diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), often have no early warning signs or symptoms.
Regular eye exams can help make sure the eyes are healthy, however the risk of vision loss and blindness is higher for some people based on race, ethnicity, and other socioeconomic factors.
You might be at higher risk for eye disease if you have a family history of eye disease; have diabetes; are African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, or Alaska Native; or are older than 50. Some diseases affect certain populations disproportionately.
- Glaucoma, which affects your side or peripheral vision first, is three times more common in African Americans than in Whites. It is a leading cause of blindness in African Americans.
- Diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness caused by uncontrolled diabetes, occurs more often in Hispanics/Latinos than in Whites.
- American Indians and Alaska Natives are 35 percent more likely to have diabetes than the average adult in the United States, putting them at increased risk of diabetic eye disease.
- Older adults are at higher risk of developing age-related eye diseases and conditions such as AMD, glaucoma, or cataract. AMD is a leading cause of blindness in Whites.
A comprehensive dilated eye exam is the best thing you can do to protect your vision. In addition to having regular eye exams, eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and wearing protective eyewear are just a few other things you can do to protect your sight.
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April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month
April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Of the 4.1 million Americans age 40 and older who are visually impaired or blind, 2.6 million are women.
A recent study I found shows more women than men have age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, the four leading eye diseases in the country. According to the National Eye Institute, the causes are primarily due to longevity as well as hormonal factors.
The first thing every woman should do, especially those ages 40 and older, is get a dilated eye exam…because early detection and treatment, vision loss can be lessened. Keeping a healthy lifestyle also helps keep the eyes healthy, including exercising regularly, not smoking and following a healthy diet.
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April – Sports Eye Safety Month
Each year, an estimated 100,000 people are hurt by sports-related eye injuries. About 13,500 of these injuries result in permanent vision loss. In support of Sports Eye Safety Month, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds athletes everywhere that the great majority of sports-related eye injuries can be avoided by simply wearing the proper protection.
•Baseball and basketball account for the largest number of injuries among young athletes.
•Little League pitchers can achieve pitching speeds up to 70 mph. That’s fast enough to seriously damage an eye.
•In basketball, serious eye injuries caused by flying fingers and elbows can be prevented by wearing appropriate protective eyewear.
•Many other popular sports, such as tennis, soccer, football, golf, water sports, and hockey, put unprotected players at risk for serious eye injury.
The risk of eye injury can vary depending on the activity. Make sure the level of eye protection you or others in your family use is appropriate for the type of activity. Regular eyeglasses do not offer proper eye protection.
Studies have shown that more than 90% of eye injuries can be prevented, simply by wearing the right protective eyewear.
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What You Need To Know Post-LASIK Surgery
Since receiving FDA approval in the 1990’s, LASIK Vision Correction has safely and effectively improved the eyesight for millions of people. An estimated 600,000 LASIK procedures are performed yearly in the U.S. and that number is on the rise.
Eye Center of Texas recently celebrated helping more than 75,000 satisfied patients correct their vision with LASIK in Houston. If you’re thinking about LASIK, you may want to know what to expect after this life-changing procedure. (Learn more about preparing for LASIK)
What to Expect After Surgery
The healing process starts immediately after your surgery and your doctor will recommend that you go home and rest for the remainder of the day. (Read more about the LASIK recovery timeline) You may experience temporary burning and expect blurry vision immediately after surgery, but the this should improve by the next morning.
Your eyesight should stabilize and continue to improve within a few days, although in rare cases it may take several weeks or longer. For most people, vision improves immediately.
Important Things NOT to Do After LASIK:
- No rubbing your eyes! If you rub your eyes you could shift the corneal flap – it’s important that the corneal flap heals and adheres securely to your cornea.
- No eye makeup for one (1) week.
- No swimming or hot tubs for two (2) weeks (chlorinated water irritates eyes and bacteria could be in the water).
- No working out or heavy lifting for one (1) week after surgery.
Important Things to Remember TO Do:
Follow-up appointments are a must for 3-6 months after surgery to monitor your vision and eye health. If you experience dry eyes, glare or halos, please know that most of these symptoms should be gone or reduced by your six-month follow up visit.
Knowing what to expect and how to handle the “after” of eye surgery will help prepare you for life after LASIK.
To learn more about how LASIK surgery can improve your life, contact Eye Center of Texas, leaders in Texas eye care, today to schedule a free consultation.
Further reading about LASIK in Houston:
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I’ve just had LASIK surgery! What can I expect?
If you’re thinking of having LASIK Eye Treatment, you’ll undoubtedly have a lot of questions about what to expect immediately after the operation. Do you need to take a significant amount of time off of work? What can I expect to experience? Will I be in pain? How long does it take for my vision to improve? Thankfully, LASIK surgery is one of the safest surgical procedures around. Let’s take you step by step through the immediate aftermath of a successful treatment.
Upon completion of the operation, your surgeon should have you rest for a bit. Many people report experiencing a temporary burning/itching sensation immediately after the procedure that is momentary and fleeting.
After a momentary rest, you will be released to return home. Make sure to arrange transportation ahead of time, as you won’t be able to drive yourself!
There are several important things to remember upon being released.
You will be prescribed medication. Follow your doctor’s instructions and remember to take any medication prescribed to you, such as eye drops and other medicines to lubricate your eyes.
You will have a temptation to rub your eyes. Do not rub your eyes. If you rub your eyes, there is a small chance this could dislodge the corneal flap created by the surgeon necessary in reshaping the underlying cornea.
Avoid tasks that could result in getting dust, dirt or water in your eyes. Avoid getting water in your eyes within the first 72 hours after a laser eye surgery procedure. It’s recommended that you avoid activities such as swimming or relaxing in a hot tub for several weeks post-surgery.
Blurriness and haziness is very common immediately after the surgery, but this should last only until the next day. Your eyesight will continue to improve in the next few days, although it can rarely take an additional week or two. It’s definitely recommended you take a few days off of work for proper rest and healing, although people have reported going to work the next day with no problems.
After the initial operation, your doctor will schedule a post-operative check up to occur within 24 to 48 hours of the operation. They will test your vision to ensure your eyes are healing, and whether you will be clear to drive without glasses or contact lenses. In most states, this requires uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. There will be additional follow-up appointments as well depending on the doctor’s judgment. Appointments that are scheduled anytime from 1 week to 6 months after the operation is normal.
The good news is that for most people, their vision improves immediately!
The long-term results offer several benefits. Most people achieve 20/20 vision or better after the surgery, but results do vary. Some people only achieve 20/40 or less. You may still need to wear glasses or contact lenses following the treatment, however your prescription level typically will be much lower than before.
Complications can occur, although the LASIK Treatment is considered a very safe procedure, with current statistics showing only 1% of patients experienced serious complications.
And finally, always remember to talk with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have. They will have the expertise to directly address any concerns that apply to your case.
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