Nine Tips for Protecting Your Eyes

• Posted on: Oct 15 2018
• By: The Eye Clinic
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No one wants to contemplate an existence without their eyesight. With all of the things we take for granted — such as looking up and seeing Mt. Hood or just turning on the TV and watching something — it’s easy to forget just the role our eyesight plays in daily life.

But people just assume their eyes will always be there for them, without doing some of the little things to protect them. They neglect getting regular eye exams. They don’t wear safety goggles when weed whacking the yard. They don’t wear sunglasses.

At The Eye Clinic, we’re obsessed with your eyes and keeping them healthy. Here are nine tips for protecting your eyes and your eyesight.

1. Know your family history of eye disease— Find out if you are at higher risk for issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Are you over 65 or African-American over 40? Any of those traits can make you at a higher risk for eye disease, making regular eye exams with the team at The Eye Clinic even more important.
2. Have regular physical exams to check your blood pressure and possible diabetes— Both of these diseases lead to eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
3. Watch for changes in your vision— Double vision, trouble seeing in low light, red eyes, frequent flashes of light, floaters, eye pain. All of these symptoms need immediate attention.
4. Protect your eyes from the sun— Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays. Why? UV rays cause cataracts and other eye problems.
5. Eat better— Studies are showing that eating antioxidants such as blueberries and broccoli can reduce the risk of developing cataracts. And eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration.
6. Exercise more— Regular exercise can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration by up to 70 percent.
7. Don’t smoke— Smokers are more prone to developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, uveitis, and other eye problems.
8. Get your eyes checked at least every two years— Many eye conditions don’t present symptoms until they are already beginning to damage your vision. But a comprehensive eye exam, including dilating your pupils, can determine your risk of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy.
9. Wear protective eyewear— When playing sports, working with tools, doing yard work and the like, wear protective eyewear. This pretty much speaks for itself.

See? Those weren’t difficult little things you can do to make sure your eyes keep on seeing the future in the future. If it’s time for your eye exam call us at The Eye Clinic, (503) 297-4718, and make your appointment.

Posted in: Eye Care