Normally, the lens of your eye is clear, but cataracts cloud the lens of the eye. For those patients suffering from cataracts, their vision is like looking through a foggy window. Cataracts impact daily life and make it difficult to drive, read, watch TV, or see expressions on another person’s face. Most cataracts develop slowly and don’t immediately impact vision, but over time, cataracts will interfere with vision. While there are surgeries to correct cataracts, it’s better to practice prevention.
No matter how old you are, there are steps you can take to slow cataract development or prevent cataracts. But don’t wait until your vision is affected to think about cataracts—read our blog to learn more:
Give Up Smoking and Excess Drinking
Smoking tobacco increases your risk of several eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and damage to the optic nerve. If left untreated, these eye conditions can lead to blindness. Do you enjoy happy hours frequently? Remember to enjoy your wine, beer, and cocktails in moderation. Just like cigarettes, excess alcohol drinking leads to a number of health risks, including developing cataracts.
Protect Your Eyes
Everyone knows that UV rays cause sunburns, but did you know that UV exposure damages your eye tissue as well? Lengthy, intense exposure to UV rays may increase your risk of cataracts and other eye conditions that affect your vision. To stay safe, find a pair of sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Darker lenses or more expensive styles do not always translate to better UV protection. When possible, choose wrap-around styles that do not let light in from the side. Remember, sunglasses are not just for summer days — UV damage can occur year-round and can be especially bad during the wintertime when sunlight reflects off of ice and snow.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
It’s not just carrots that are good for your eyes. A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables can help keep your eyes healthy. This includes dark, leafy greens, such as collard greens, kale, and spinach. Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids may also help protect your eye health; these include halibut, salmon, and tuna, among others. Studies suggest that patients with diabetes are at greater risk for developing cataracts, so maintaining a healthy diet is important for your overall health and vision.
Visit Your Eye Doctor
Some eye problems — including cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, and glaucoma — may not show any warning signs until they have progressed into their advanced stages, limiting the treatment options. However, by undergoing regular eye exams, your eye doctor can help detect eye problems in their early stages and suggest appropriate treatment options sooner.
Eye Care for the Whole Family
At Complete Eye Care of Medina, we value your family’s health, together, we can treat your family’s vision problems. Let’s work together and develop a vision plan to keep you healthy. Schedule an appointment by calling us today at 763-225-3859 or visiting us online at completeeyecareofmedina.com.