Aging eyes bring more than crow’s feet and wrinkles. It’s what you can’t seethe health of your eyesthat is the bigger concern, doctors say.
By the age of 40, many people may begin coping with vision problems they didn’t have before. These might include dry eyes and presbyopia, or an inability to focus on objects that are close up, and can leave people feeling fatigued and headachy by the end of the workday. Genetics largely determines how our eyes age. But new research suggests that nutrition and environment can lessen some of the risks to eye health and vision.
TIPS FOR ALL AGES:
People who wear contacts should see an eye specialist yearly.
Get more frequent eye exams if you are diabetic or pre-diabetic.
Regular exercise promotes blood circulation and oxygen intake important for eye health.
Wear sunglasseslook for eye-sun protection factor between 25 and 50when outside in the sun.
Rest up: During sleep, eyes are continuously lubricated and clear out irritants such as dust, allergens and smoke that accumulate during the day
TURNING POINTS
A look at what to do at what age for your eyes.
INFANTS: Eye exam at birth and again between 6 and 12 months.
PRESCHOOL: Get a visual acuity test between ages 3 and 3. If the test shows misaligned eyes, lazy eye or refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, the child should see an eye doctor. It’s important to treat these problems before age 7, when convergence, the ability of both eyes to focus on an object simultaneously, becomes more fully developed.
SCHOOL AGE: Eye screening should be done upon entering school and whenever a problem is suspected. Nearsightedness is the most common refractive error in this age group and can be corrected with eyeglasses.
TEENAGERS/20s: Vision development is complete by the time people reach their early 20s. It remains steady for several decades, and prescription lenses change only slightly or not at all. If you wear contact lenses, see your eye specialist yearly to check the prescription. Protect eyes while playing sports.
ADULTS UNDER 40: Since vision changes little, this is a good time for refractive or LASIK surgery. Get a complete eye exam once in the 20s and twice in 30s, but more often if you have family history of eye disease or wear contact lenses. Women may have vision fluctuations during pregnancy.
ADULTS 40 to 60: This is a time when symptoms of many eye diseases may begin to emerge. A comprehensive eye exam is recommended at age 40 to check for early signs of age-related macular degeneration and other problems. Most people will get presbyopia, an inability to focus on close-up objects, starting in their 40s, when the eye’s lens gets less flexible.
65 AND UP: By age 65, 1 in 3 Americans will have a vision-impairing eye disease such as glaucoma and cataracts.Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology
As people get older, “The lens of your eye gradually loses the ability to focus in and out the way it used to,” said Julia Haller, ophthalmologist-in-chief at Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia. “Some people refuse to wear reading glassesand really fight it. They may hold out a little longer but eventually we all succumb to the inevitable.”
While we can’t win against Mother Nature, some strategies can minimize the damage. Avoid self-prescribing with, say, off-the-shelf reading glasses sold at drugstores, says Gary Etting, an optometrist who specializes in vision therapy in Los Angeles. People often select glasses that appear to make things clearest, he said.
But this may be a stronger prescription than they need, which can encourage their loss of focus to go faster.
Also, glasses you need for reading may be different than ones you need when using a computer, he said. “So people who wear their reading glasses on the computer can also be encouraging their eyes to weaken faster.”
Scientists have been studying ways to prevent vision problems in young people, which also might help protect eyes as they age.
Two studies published in the May issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, suggest that spending time outdoors may help minimize or prevent nearsightedness, or myopia, in children. Myopia can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. But it can also be a precursor to severe myopia in adulthood, which is linked to the later development of eye disorders such as glaucoma and retinal detachment.
Click for more from The Wall Street Journal.[1]
References
- ^ Click for more from The Wall Street Journal. (online.wsj.com)
Resources:
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Can You Give Me Some Health Tips? I need some health tips. You see I am making a health book. I want to give the world a medical health book. Therefore I need health tips.
What Are Your Best Tips To Live A Healthy Life? Health tips in any area would be great. Especially what foods to eat, fitness tips, avoiding colds or being sick, and being happier.
Sorry it’s so broad, but I just wanted some really good tips or secrets, or anything. Thanks!
One has to be happy, not worry about everything little thing that goes wrong, think of others who have life a lot worse or the ones who are gone who whould like to swich with you, but most importantly, you must cleanse your body of toxins and take suppliments.
What Are Some Basic Tips To Give To Kids About Staying Healthy? I’m trying to teach my 6 year old nephew how to stay healthy. I need tips from eating right, to being active and maintaining hygiene. Any health tips you expect a 6 yr old kid to understand.
You should tell them to eat lots of smaller meals and to eat slowly so that their bodies are more able to recognize when they are full. Also its important to drink lots of water and fruit juice rather than soda. Try and encourage him to stay away from junk food and eat fruit or something healthy when he wants a snack. Also teach him to be active, that playing sports and running around is good for you as well as fun. Also teach him the basics of hygiene like showering daily and brushing his teeth 3 times a day. Try and make it all fun for him though, as kids respond more to things that they find enjoyable.
I’m Trying To Loose Weight, What Are Some Health Tips? I’m making a modeling portfolio, and I know I need to be slimmer. What are some health tips, such as eating veggies, and colors to dress in the make you look slimmer? What is skinny for height 5’8″? I am Indian (India) & German and I have blue eyes.
Unfortunately there are no easy ways to permanently lose weight and most people who lose weight regain it all.
A vegetarian or vegan diet for the rest of your life might perhaps be a good option as very few vegetarians or vegans are overweight.
If you want a life changing permanent weight loss you need to follow a maintenance diet for the rest of your life after you reach your target weight with one of the many diets you can choose from.
You can see further details in a web search for “how to lose weight and keep it off”.
Any Health Or Beauty Tips You Know About Weightloss, Looks, Health Etc? I want to try and be heathlier and feel better about myself because at the moment I have really low self esteem and I want to know any health tips you guys can give me.
Examples:
– How to lose weight safely
– How to brush your hair or teeth properly
– How to apply makeup
– A good cleanser that won’t harm your skin.
Basically just anything you know about being healthy or anything you can think of.
Person with the most tips gets best answer!
Hi Kara!
I have dealt with this problem of weight lose (and low self esteem too!) for a couple of years now. But now I reached a point where I know if I will not do something for myself, no one will do it…So, here is a list of some questions/ideas that I think you will find useful and by answering to these question you will have some ideas on what to work on.
1. Make the time to focus on health.
2. Take a long hard look at what you are putting into your body.
3. How much are you eating?
4. Drink WATER!
5. How much do you move each day?
Hope you will be ok soon!
Kindly,
Irene