Your eyes are sensitive to changes, and maintaining healthy vision requires proactive eye care. While you likely visit an eye doctor for regular exams, there are other ways to reduce your risk of eye diseases, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. To help you maintain your eye health between visits, review the following suggestions. 

A Quick Eye Health Guide

1. Exercise Regularly

Working out lowers the risk of health issues that affect the eyes, including hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. High blood pressure damages retinal blood vessels in the eyes, often causing them to thicken and narrow. 

Restricted blood flow to the retinas can cause swelling that puts pressure on the optic nerves, which affects vision and is known as hypertensive retinopathy. High blood sugar from diabetes harms eye blood vessels as well, which increases the risk of cataracts, retinopathy, and glaucoma. 

2. Wear Sunglasses Year Round

Large, broad-spectrum sunglasses that shield the eyes from UVA and UVB rays are not just for warm, sunny weather. Wearing these during winter will block light reflection from the snow, reducing the risk of cataracts, or eye lens clouding that eventually causes blindness. Frequent use also protects the delicate surrounding skin from premature aging and skin cancer. 

3. Enjoy an Eye-Friendly Diet

Vitamins C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc are among the nutrients that help prevent age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Foods high in these nutrients include dark leafy greens, citrus fruits, oily fish such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon, and eggs, beans, and nuts. 

Other eye care-friendly nutrients include Vitamin A, which helps the retinas transform light into images. Foods high in vitamin A include sweet potatoes, carrots, apricots, and cantaloupes.

Scheduling routine eye exams is another important component of eye care since it alerts you to any potential issues. Make your next appointment at Abel, Klecker & Robbins in Lexington, KY, the renowned vision center treating patients of all ages. Call (859) 269-6921 today to make an appointment or learn more about eye care services online.