When it comes to your overall health and wellness, vision care is crucial. Keeping your eyes healthy can prevent you from developing ocular diseases and experiencing diminished eyesight over time. The following guide offers some preventive tactics for protecting your eyes and promoting clear vision. 

How to Promote Eye Health

1. Eat Eye-Healthy Foods

Eating a healthy diet can make you less susceptible to developing certain eye conditions and diseases. Dark, leafy greens such as collards, kale, and spinach are rich sources of lutein, an antioxidant that protects against cataract formation and age-related macular degeneration. Additionally, fish such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, contain omega-3 fatty acids that may improve the oil film produced by glands along the eyelids, reducing the burning and itchiness associated with dry eye. 

2. Wear Eye Protection

Prolonged exposure to the sun's UV rays can damage your eyes, increasing the risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, and certain types of ocular cancer. Wearing sunglasses that block at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays minimizes these risks. Additionally, you may prevent your eyes from becoming damaged or infected by airborne debris and projectiles by wearing safety glasses or goggles while playing sports, doing yard work, or completing home improvement projects. 

3. Get Corrective Lenses

If you have undiagnosed farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism, your eyes may struggle to focus while performing daily tasks such as driving, reading, and working on computers. As a result, you might experience eye strain symptoms such as blurry vision, headaches, and sensitivity to light. An optometrist can diagnose these common issues and evaluate your vision's clarity. Based on the test results, your vision care provider can give you a prescription for glasses or contact lenses to help your eyes focus and prevent straining.

4. Schedule Yearly Eye Exams

During annual eye exams, an optometrist will dilate your eyes, allowing more light into them. This makes it easier for your doctor to check for issues such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Early detection can allow your vision care provider to begin treatment immediately, increasing the likelihood of a favorable prognosis. Exams also let your optometrist monitor existing conditions and keep them from worsening. Additionally, they can make any necessary adjustments to your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses to ensure you continue seeing clearly.

Keep your eyes healthy with routine visits to Baldwin Optical in Foley, AL. This optometrist offers eye exams, prescription glasses, and contact lenses for clients throughout Baldwin County. Visit the website to learn more about this practice, or call (251) 210-3741 to schedule an appointment.