How to lower your risk of vision loss

If you were to lose your vision, there is no doubt that your quality of life would be majorly affected.
Eyesight deterioration and general eye health: what can I do to protect my vision?Eyesight deterioration and general eye health: what can I do to protect my vision?
Eyesight deterioration and general eye health: what can I do to protect my vision?

It is easy to take your eyes and sight for granted, but if you develop problems, you will soon realise how much you depend on your vision every moment of every single day.

That is why it is important to look after your vision now before issues might arise that could have been avoided. The good news is that there are things you can do to lower your risk of vision loss. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Investigate your family’s healthy history

It is important to learn more about the health history of your family. This way, you can know if you are at a higher risk of any eye disease. For example, check if any of your family has glaucoma, high blood pressure or diabetes. If they do, you should make your eye doctor aware of this so that your eyesight can be monitored.

Regular screening for conditions like glaucoma can spot the problem early and provide you with support. Conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can lead to eye problems if they are not addressed.

Thankfully, there is a lot of research and new treatment developments, such as at the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute, that are going to help with eye conditions.

Enjoy a healthy diet

Everyone is always telling you to enjoy a healthy diet. In particular, this is going to be important for preventing vision loss. For example, you should make sure that you enjoy a lot of fruit and vegetables in your diet. Studies are showing that leafy vegetables contain nitrates, which can lower your risk of glaucoma by up to 30 percent. This works by improving blood flow to your eyes through the nitric oxide that is created.

Making a conscious effort to adjust your meals and snacks during the day can really make a difference.

Give up smoking

In recent years, the damage of smoking has been recognised across the world. But did you know that smoking doesn't just affect your lungs? It can also cause damage to your eyes too. For example, you can be more at risk of macular degeneration and glaucoma. It is time to kick the habit and focus on living a healthier lifestyle. While this can be difficult at first, there are many advantages to giving up smoking. Do not be afraid to reach out for support.

Shield your eyes

There are a lot of things in your daily life that can increase the risk of eye damage. You should always wear protective eyewear if you work in construction or other jobs where there are machinery and chemicals. In addition, everyone is advised to wear sunglasses in order to block out harmful UV light.

Even if you go swimming, it is recommended that you wear goggles so that chlorine does not irritate your eyes. Simple steps like these ensure your vision is protected.