What You Need to Know to Help Improve Your Eye Health

There are a number of parts or aspects of your body that begin to lose their effectiveness as you get older, but maybe none more so than your sense of vision. As people get older, the muscles around the eye, the shape of the eye, and the sensitivity of the parts of the eye diminish, making it so that a person is not able to see as well.

In fact, it is not uncommon for senior citizens to have to wear both contact lenses and glasses to be able to see. This is the kind of diminished capacity that your eyes can have as you age.

How You Can Take Care of Your Eyes

While it is likely that you were going to see some degeneration in eye function, it does not mean you have to let this become severe. In fact, there are a number of things you can do, even in your senior years, which will protect your eyesight and help you to better care for your vision. Here are a few.

  • Have Regular Checkups

One of the factors that have a profound impact on eye health is the fact that people do not regularly have their eyes checked. They can go five years or longer before seeing a doctor, which can allow injuries and diseases to go undetected until the damage has become so severe that it is irreversible. Regularly going to the doctor can help to see if there are issues that need immediate attention so that they can be taking care of right away.

  • Look for Issues on Your Own

You are the first offense in resolving issues with your health. You know how you should work and if there are problems. So if you detect that something seems amiss with your eyes, you are probably right. This is the time when you need to seek the help of a professional to have your eyes examined.

  • Exercise

Believe it or not, exercise can actually have a profound effect on helping vision. You don’t even have to do anything strenuous. By getting out and walking or bicycling on a regular basis, you can decrease macular degeneration by as much as 70 percent. It’s another good reason why you should exercise regularly.

  • Eat Well

As a kid, you were told to eat things that would help with your vision. Regardless of your age, you need things that are high in antioxidants to help reduce such issues as cataracts. Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids can also help in reducing macular degeneration. Eating vegetables and fruits is essential in helping to take care of your eyes.

Common Eye Issues for Seniors

There are a number of issues that are common for those who are getting into their senior years. One of those is Presbyopia, which is the inability to see objects up close or to read the small print. This usually happens over the duration of a person’s life, but becomes much more noticeable after a person reaches into their 40s. Having reading glasses or using contacts can easily help to correct this problem.

Floaters are another kind of problem. What this means is that little specs or spots appear in your field of vision, making things that you see slightly distorted. While this can be nothing more than an irritating little issue, it can also be a sign of something more severe. Have your doctor check your eyes to see what can be done to relieve this problem.

Dry eyes are also quite common for those who are in their senior years. This can start with nothing more than a little itching or burning but can become a serious problem that can eventually lead to you losing your vision altogether. One of the best ways to remedy this is by using a humidifier in your room while you sleep. This helps to lubricate the eyes and protect their health. There are also special drops you can buy that will stimulate tears to protect the cornea of the eye.

Stay at a Place That Is Ready to Help You

These all sound like great suggestions, but they can be difficult to employ when you are living on your own. This is why many choose to live in the senior living community at Bestland. Here, you will not only have the opportunity to live an enjoyable life in a fantastic community, but they provide you with transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensuring that you are getting the proper care you need. Best of all, they provide all of their services at a price that will easily work within your budget.