If you are seeking an Orange County Lasik center, eye surgery, cataract surgery, or are even just starting to think you may need eye glasses for the first time, you might be wondering what you can do in your daily life to keep your eyes healthy. After all, you want to maintain your vision at its best, right? It turns out that some eye health factors are more important than others. While some are biologically inherited and out of your control like genetics, many can be managed by good decision-making and a healthy lifestyle. Although we cannot always prevent worsening vision as we age, we can combat it with proper knowledge of the factors that affect our eyesight. Read on to find out what parts of your life are affecting your vision the most.
For more information about the top Orange County Lasik center and how Lasik surgery can benefit you, contact Advanced Eye Medical.
1. Genes
We all inherit our genetic makeup from our parents. In our genes are biological codes that predict factors like our hair and eye color, our height and metabolism rate, and the diseases that we will be susceptible to developing during our lifetimes. Some of the diseases that affect eyesight which can be inherited genetically include glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration. The only way to predict your chances of developing these eye problems is to have your family’s medical history checked. The good news is, studies show that making proactive, health-related decisions can potentially override your genes, and even change your genetic makeup so that your children will be less susceptible to some maladies.
2. Age
Aging is, of course, a factor in nearly all bodily processes. After our mid-twenties, our bodies begin a deterioration process which goes on for decades, and we slowly lose the strength we once had as teenagers. Even those who in their youth enjoyed 20/20 vision cannot count on that perfect vision continuing into their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. We begin to wear glasses and pursue alternative treatment options. Beginning in our 50s and 60s, proteins may start to clump together within the corneal lens, shrouding our vision. These are known as cataracts. Other common age-related problems are loss of focus-ability, nearsightedness, and farsightedness.
3. Stress
The current emphasis on mindfulness, including meditation, yoga, and other de-stressing practices, shows just how badly our society needs to unwind. It has been shown over and over again that stress causes many kinds of health problems in the body, and this includes problems with eyesight. Aside from a generalized decline in eyesight, there are three known stressors that can cause temporary declines in vision. They are:
• Tiredness: Fatigue makes your whole body start to shut down, and when you are too tired your eyes can get blurry.
• Muscle tension: If you tire your eyes out from reading, staring at the computer, or watching too much tv, you may also experience blurry vision.
• Boosts in adrenaline: Increases in adrenaline can have a dramatic effect on eyesight. You may experience anything from simple blurriness to tunnel vision all the way to visual hallucinations.
4. Diet
The food we choose to put in our body is considered to be the number one determinant of overall health. Our bodies need all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to function properly. Without them, we invite disease. “If you want to have good vision, consume foods high in beta carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, and antioxidants.”
5. Exercise
Most people don’t sit around doing eye exercises, and that’s not what we’re talking about. We mean for you to get out there and walk, swim, take a cardio class, lift weights, or do whatever physical activity suits your body, your lifestyle, and your preference best. Exercising regularly helps prevent diseases which can cause a serious decline in vision, such as diabetes (which is usually linked to obesity.) Like maintaining a healthy diet, exercise keeps your body healthy. It also allows you to keep in a healthy weight range and avoid the onset of disease.
6. Direct Damage
This doesn’t necessarily mean injury, though it can. Most loss of vision due to direct damage occurs by too much exposure to the sun. Believe it or not, exposing your eyes to the sun without UVA/UVB protective sunglasses for too long can cause vision loss over a relatively brief period. The overexposure to ultraviolet rays can also lead to glaucoma, cataracts, and other disorders. The moral of the story: buy a good pair of sunglasses, and wear them.
Orange County Lasik
Dr. Ghosheh at Advanced Eye Medical and his team of optometrists and ophthalmologists deliver the clearer vision you expect from the premier Orange County Lasik Center. Call 866-997-2020 (Lasik) or 949-582-1090 (Cataract and others) for a FREE consultation today!