Celebrate Healthy Vision Month with These 5 Senior Eye Care Tips

According to the CDC, 4.2 million Americans over the age of 40 have some form of vision loss that cannot be fixed.

Aside from going in to get a glasses prescription, most people don't think twice about aging and eyesight. Yet as the years go by, someone with good eyesight can notice a significant deterioration after failing to care for it. If they keep doing the things that are bad for their eyes, eventually it'll be too late to reverse the damage.

In honor of Healthy Vision Month, we're looking at five vision wellness tips seniors should try in North Richland Hills, TX. All are simple things that let you enjoy your eyesight more, for longer.

1. Feed Your Eyes for Healthy Vision Month

If you ask the average person what they should eat for senior eye care, they'd probably tell you carrots. That's a good start since carrots have vitamin A, something your eyes love. But there are a number of nutrients that will be essential for Healthy Vision Month.

Other healthful nutrients for protecting vision in retirement include vitamin C and vitamin E. Antioxidants and minerals can also play an important role. Most of these nutrients can be easily sourced from your everyday food, including sensational dining at your community.

Foods You Should Try

Few of these nutrients require exotic or uncommon food sources. Try to add the following to your diet:

• Spinach
• Dairy products
• Citrus fruits
• Broccoli
• Bell peppers

Supplements are a convenient source of nutrients in the event that your diet is lacking. However, don't rely on them too heavily. Experts agree that eating supplement-rich food is always better than taking supplements to get those same nutrients.

2. Exercise More Often

Talking about exercise for eyes, one might think we're referring to looking at a TV screen. In reality, normal exercise increases blood flow, aids tissue healing, and reduces oxidative stress. These and other benefits contribute to senior eye health indirectly.

Tips for Exercise

On average, aim for about 150 minutes of exercise every week. Most people will find that 30-minute daily sessions are the best approach. Do anything that gets your heart rate up and makes you sweat a little.

Lots of activities at your senior community are designed to get you up and moving. Consider a simple walk at the senior-equipped fitness center, or a walk on the path. If nothing else, bustling around the greenhouse or taking part in off-site activities keeps you from sitting down all the time.

3. Cut Back on Smoking

Everyone knows smoking is bad for your lungs, but it also has a negative impact on your eyes. Smokers suffer increased risk for things like cataracts, macular degeneration, and optic nerve damage. If you've smoked heavily in the past, you might consider eye screenings for seniors to assess your eye health.

Unfortunately, these same risks apply to vaping as well. Quitting smoking or vaping is great for your overall health, anyway. So, make the pledge to stop, not just for Healthy Vision Month, but for your general well-being.

How to Cut Smoking

Kicking the habit will require different strategies for different people. You'll have to find new coping methods for when you suffer from irritability as a result of nicotine withdrawal. Consider things like nicotine replacement therapy and reward-based systems.

4. Limit Your Screen Time

We are all guilty these days of spending way too much time behind our screens, especially up close with our phones. Our eyes aren't happy with this state of affairs. Excessive screen usage may cause you to experience blurry vision, ghosting, and eye aches.

While the verdict is out on whether or not frequent screen time causes permanent damage, the evidence makes it clear we're healthier with less. Less screen-ogling means your eyes won't get as dry, nor will you get headaches from watching too much TV. You'll probably be happier, too, since screen time tends to be an isolating activity.

Tips for Limiting Screen Time

For starters, try to look away from your screen more often to reduce strain. It's recommended that you refocus on something that's at least 20 feet away and stare at it for about 20 seconds. They call this the 20-20-20 rule, since you should do it every 20 minutes.

Also, consider general reductions in screen time across the board. If you use social media for two hours a day, try to limit it to one hour. Rather than watching television for several hours until you sleep, read a book for the last 30 minutes.

5. Protect Your Eyes from the Sun

Sunglasses don't exist just to make you look cool, like Tom Cruise from Top Gun. They're a vital tool for protecting your eyes from the harsh UV rays the sun puts out. Those UV rays don't just hurt after a long, bright day; they increase your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Any sunglasses are better than no sunglasses at all. If you're out on a trip with your senior community without them, a cheap $5 pair at the gas station will do nicely. Having said that, there are definitely specific kinds of sunglasses with stronger filtering that you should gravitate too.

Choosing the Right Sunglasses

Sunglasses make all sorts of claims that can be confusing for the average consumer. Generally speaking, though, there are three things that matter most of all:

• 100% UV blockage
• UV-A and UV-B blockage
• UV400 protection

As for the form factor of sunglasses, wraparounds and aviators are best. You may see a lot of sunglasses advertising that they're polarized or have some sort of anti-glare component. These can be helpful to reduce glare, but they do nothing for UV blocking.

Finding a Senior Community in Morada Meadow Lakes

In celebration of Healthy Vision Month, there are a number of eye health tips you can try out. Eating nutrient-rich foods, reducing screen time, and wearing sunglasses is a good start. Going the extra mile by quitting smoking or exercising is even better.

Morada Meadow Lakes in Texas provides a health-oriented community for seniors. Our delicious dining gives you those nutrient-rich foods, and our activity calendar keeps you active for eye health. Come schedule a tour and see what you're missing.