Supporting Your Eye Health
Having good vision helps you perform everyday tasks, from taking care of yourself to reading and driving. This makes it important for you to take the extra steps to look after your eye health!
Eat a Healthy Diet
Like most areas of your health, your vision and eye health are directly affected by your diet. When it comes to supporting the health and function of your eyes, it is essential that you eat a diet rich in the following vitamins and nutrients:
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Lutein
- Zeaxanthin
- Zinc
The next time you head out to the grocery store, try adding some of these eye-healthy food options to your cart:
- Broccoli
- Collard greens
- Spinach
- Kale
- Corn
- Oranges
- Squash
- Grapefruit
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Tuna
- Chickpeas
- Kiwi
- Red peppers
- Carrots
- Strawberries
Wear Sunglasses With UV Ray Protection
Another way to look after your eye health is to protect your eyes and the sensitive skin surrounding them from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. When your eyes are exposed to excessive amounts of UV radiation, you are at an increased risk of developing the following short and long term issues:
- Photokeratitis
- Cataracts
- Macular degeneration
- Extreme light sensitivity
When heading outdoors, it is recommended that you wear sunglasses that met the following criteria:
- Blocks out 99-100% of UV-A and UV-B radiation.
- Has lenses that are perfectly matched in color.
- Screen out 70-90% of visible light.
See Your Eye Doctor Regularly
It’s also important that you have regular checkups with your optometrist, even if you have 20/20 vision. This is because certain eye diseases can go unnoticed because they don’t display signs or symptoms that you can see yourself—they require a dilated eye exam.
Contact Kirby Medical Center
At Kirby Medical Center, we are dedicated to helping our community learn how to stay healthy and safe. If you are concerned about your health risks and the types of vaccines that are right for you,
contact Kirby Medical Center at 217-762-2115 to learn more about how we can assist with all your healthcare needs.