A Vision for 2025: Keeping Your Eyes Healthy
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By Sheldon Riklon, M.D.
It’s that time again when many of us focus on creating healthier habits, like being more active or eating healthier. One thing we often forget is our eye health. Taking care of your eyes is just as important as any other part of your overall wellness.
Several types of eye diseases can develop as you get older or because of a chronic condition. These are some of the most common:
- Cataracts: A cloudy area in the eye’s lens that can lead to vision loss
- Glaucoma: Causes vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of the eye
- Diabetic Retinopathy: Damages the blood vessels in the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye)
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Causes blurriness and vision loss in your central vision
Age-related macular degeneration is common among people who are 50 and older.
While diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss in people with diabetes, diabetics are also more likely to develop cataracts and glaucoma.
Some people are more likely to develop eye diseases, including:
- People over 60
- People of African, Hispanic or Asian heritage
- Those with a family history of eye disease
- People with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes
- Anyone who has had an eye injury
Whether you are at a higher risk or not, here are some tips to keep your eyes healthy:
- Get regular eye exams.
A yearly eye exam can help catch problems early and protect the overall health of your eyes.
- Know your family history.
Tell your eye doctor if anyone in your family has had an eye disease, since some eye diseases are hereditary.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
Dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale or collard greens are full of nutrients that support eye health.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
Keeping a healthy weight can help prevent conditions, like Type 2 diabetes, that can affect your vision.
- Wear protective eyewear.
Use protective eyewear while playing sports or at work to help protect your eyes from injury.
- Wear sunglasses.
Sunglasses block harmful UV rays from the sun that can damage your eyes.
- Take proper care of your contacts.
Wash your hands before handling contacts and clean them correctly to prevent infection.
- Quit smoking.
Smoking increases your chances of developing cataracts and other eye diseases.
- Rest your eyes.
Looking at a computer screen, TV or phone for a long time can strain your eyes. Take regular breaks from screen time and give your eyes a rest.
By following these simple tips, you can lower your risk of eye diseases and keep your vision strong for years to come.
If you need help finding an eye doctor, a community health worker can help. Visit communityhealth.uams.edu to learn more.
Sheldon Riklon, M.D., is a professor in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and a co-investigator with the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation.
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