Explore some tips to keeping your eyes healthy and protected this summer.

Healthtrax cares about your overall health and that includes awareness for the importance of Eye Health. For National Healthy Vision Month, we have compiled some helpful tips on how you can keep your eyes healthy and protect your vision. And yes, regular exercise and proper nutrition are in the equation!

1.      Schedule a dilated eye exam with your doctor – Many people may have eye diseases that they’re not aware of, because they often don’t cause symptoms or trigger warnings. Because of this, scheduling a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the most important way to maintain your eye health, as the exam will be able to detect any diseases early on, at which point they are much easier to treat. This exam itself is very easy to do and painless for the patient. Learn more about this exam here.

2.      Know the risks of eye diseases and how your family’s health history factors in – With age comes higher health risks, but other factors such as obesity, family history of eye disease, and ethnicity can also play a major role. Preexisting conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure will also put you at a higher risk for associated eye diseases. Talking to your doctor about any diseases that run in your family can help you take the necessary steps to lower your risk.

3.      Be proactive about your overall health – Every part of your body is connected and impacts the other, so it’s no surprise that taking care of your overall health is important in keeping your eyes and vision healthy. Follow these steps to maintain a healthy balance:

·       Regular exercise and eating a well-balanced diet will help reduce your risk for potential eye diseases and vision problems.

·       Incorporating dark, leafy greens and fish, like salmon and tuna, that are high in omega-3 fatty acids will keep your eyes looking (and feeling) great!

·       Physical activity can help keep blood pressure and cholesterol in healthy ranges, which in turn will lower your risk for certain eye diseases.

·       If you’re a smoker, quitting won’t just help improve the functionality of your lungs, but it will also decrease your risk for cataracts and macular degeneration.

4.      Wear protection – Taking these steps to protect your eyes from potential harm will greatly improve your eye health in the long run:

·       Sunglasses that block 99-100% of both UVA and UVB radiation are ideal for protecting your eyes, not just in sunny weather but also when it’s cloudy out.

·       Consider wearing safety goggles when doing certain repairs, cleaning, playing certain sports as is required for our Racquetball players.

·       Extended computer use (and the blue lights associated with it) can be very harmful to your eyes, so stepping away from your screen every 20 minutes can greatly improve your vision and overall eye health.

·       Contact wearers should always disinfect their contacts regularly, and wash their hands before inserting them into their eyes to prevent any potential infections.

The National Eye Institute’s theme for Healthy Vision Month 2021 is Eye on Health Equity, providing everyone with an equal chance for healthy vision.

These Healthy Vision Month Ambassadors discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in eye healthcare. They’ve faced many challenges on their journeys to become eye health professionals including receiving a lack of mentorship, not having any representation in the field which causes many patients (and the doctors themselves!) to feel uncomfortable and unseen, miscommunication between doctors and non-English speaking patients, causing vision problems for the patient since they are not receiving the proper care they need.

For more information on Healthy Vision Month, increasing equality and diversity in the eye health field, and for resources on how to improve your eye health, visit the National Eye Institute.