7 habits that help keep your eyes healthy should be maintained regularly

In addition to regular eye exams to promptly detect vision problems early, maintaining healthy habits can also benefit your eyes.

Maintain a healthy weight

Obese people often have more fatty tissue, and this tissue can lead to increased inflammation and metabolic changes, potentially affecting the eyes. Obesity also increases the risk of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, dry eyes… Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight supports overall health and reduces the risk of serious diseases.

Control chronic diseases

Some chronic diseases can affect eye health. People with high blood pressure are at higher risk of certain eye diseases. Diabetes damages blood vessels, leading to diabetic retinopathy, which can cause vision loss and blindness.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that affects the immune and nervous systems. People with multiple sclerosis are more likely to have vision problems if the disease affects the optic nerve.

Eat a diet rich in nutrients

Foods rich in vitamins A, C and E and antioxidants such as dark green leafy vegetables help reduce inflammation and reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Fatty fish and flaxseeds contain eye-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Foods rich in carotenoids include carrots, sweet potatoes and red bell peppers, which provide nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin, which support healthy retinas.

Exercise regularly

Regular physical activity improves mood and heart health while reducing the risk of eye diseases or chronic diseases that can cause vision problems. Exercise also contributes to reducing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Healthy adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate physical activity (walking, cycling, swimming) per week.

Avoid smoking

Smoking increases the risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration by damaging the blood vessels around the eyes. The harmful effects of smoking can be reduced when you quit smoking.

Wear sunglasses when going out in the sun

Protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun by covering them with sunglasses or a hat. Eye damage can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration and astigmatism. Even on cloudy days, UV rays can be harmful and affect vision. Prioritize choosing sunglasses that block 99%-100% of UVA and UVB radiation.

Give your eyes a rest

Using electronic devices for long periods of time can cause eye strain, pain and headaches. Protect your eyes by resting them and practicing the 20-20-20 rule, which means after every 20 minutes of working on the screen, look at an object 6 meters away for at least 20 seconds.