Eye care should be on the top list when maintaining your overall health. The healthy eye helps you to perceive the world around you. You minimize the chances of accidents through the sense of sight, thus safeguarding other body organs. However, like other body organs, your eyes are exposed to different conditions as you age. For example, you could have the growth of unusual blood vessels beneath the macular in your eyes. This growth can obstruct your central vision, thus interfering with your daily activities. Fortunately, certain lifestyle habits can help minimize the risk of macular degeneration San Antonio. Here are some of the lifestyle modifications to prevent this condition.
Table of Contents
Monitor Your Blood Pressure
Individuals with hypertension are predisposed to macular degeneration. Over time, high blood pressure causes damage to the retinal vessels in your eyes. Consequently, it becomes difficult for the vascular layer of your eyes to get an adequate oxygen supply. Since you may not know you have hypertension, it is good to consider annual health checkups. This way, your health provider will monitor your blood pressure levels and educate you on keeping them healthy.
Quit Smoking
Another reason to stop smoking is to keep your eyes healthy. Notably, nicotine constituents lower lutein levels within the macular. The reduced level of lutein exposes the outer layer of the eye’s retina to wear down. Further, cigarette chemicals constrict the tiny blood vessels supplying blood to the retina. Therefore, if you are a smoker, it would help if you took the necessary initiatives to kick off this habit.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Your food choices say a lot about keeping your eyes healthy. Focus on increasing the intake of meals with a high proportion of antioxidants. The antioxidants are essential in retarding cell damage in your eyes associated with free radicals. This instance will help reduce the chances of macular degeneration. Consider replacing unhealthy meals with antioxidant foods such as vegetables and green peas.
Wear Sunglasses
Sun is an excellent source of vitamin D essential to prevent inflammation. However, excessive exposure to sunlight can trigger eye problems. Harmful UV rays usually cause retinal damage, which hastens the progression of macular degeneration. Therefore, you should wear sunglasses with a UV 400 rating outdoors. Also, it would be best if you minimize screen time since the blue lights from electronic devices can cause eye concerns.
Seek Regular Eye Checkups
When did you last visit an ophthalmologist clinic for an eye checkup? If you cannot remember, you are running the risk of eye problems. Regular eye exams should be part of your health care as you age. These checkups help the ophthalmologist catch the signs of macular degeneration early, facilitating timely treatment. As a golden rule, you should consider an eye exam at least once every two years.
Macular degeneration is one of the leading eye concerns. This condition occurs when you have damage to your macular. While the risk of this eye condition increases with age, lifestyle modification can help minimize the chances of macular degeneration. For example, quitting smoking is essential to avoid constricting tiny blood vessels under the retina. Shifting to high-antioxidant diet meals will also help keep your eyes healthy. Further, you should seek regular eye exams for early detection of macular degeneration signs.
Comments