Church Partnership Newsletter January 2015 | Page 2

Eye Health
Your eyes are an important part of your health. Many things can be done to keep them healthy and to make sure you’re
seeing your best.
Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. To you, your
vision is fine, but visiting your eye care professional for
a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to
really be sure. Some people don’t realize they could see
better with glasses or contact lenses.
Many common eye diseases, such as
glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and
age-related macular degeneration,
often have no warning signs. A
dilated eye exam is the only way to
detect these diseases in their early
stages.
During a comprehensive eye exam,
not only is vision measured to
discover how well vision is at certain
distances, but the pupil is dilated to
allow more light to enter the eye. This process enables
your eye care professional to get a good look at the
back of the eyes and examine them for any signs of
damage or disease. Another part of the exam measures
the pressure inside of the eye.
The eye care professional may conduct other tests to
learn more about the structure of the eye.
Know your family’s eye health history. Talk to your
family about their eye health history. It’s important to
know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease
or condition, since many are hereditary. This
information will help determine if you’re at higher risk
for developing an eye disease or condition.
Eat right to protect your sight. You’ve heard that
carrots are good for your eyes. But eating a diet rich in
fruits and vegetables—particularly dark leafy greens,
such as spinach, kale, or collard greens—is important
for keeping eyes healthy, too. Research has also shown
there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in
omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese
increases the risk of developing diabetes and other

systemic conditions. This can lead to vision loss, such as
diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. If you’re having
trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your
doctor.
Wear protective eyewear.
Protective eyewear includes safety
glasses and goggles, safety shields,
and eye guards specially designed to
provide the correct protection for
the activity in which you’re engaged.
Most protective eyewear lenses are
made of polycarbonate, which is 10
times stronger than other plastics.
Many eye care providers sell
protective eyewear, as do some
sporting goods stores.
Quit smoking or never start. Smoking is as bad for your
eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Research has
linked smoking to an increased risk of developing agerelated macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve
damage, all of which can lead to blindness.
Be cool and wear your shades. Sunglasses are a great
fashion accessory, but their most important job is to
protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When
purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99
to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time at the
computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes
forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the
20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20
feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This short exercise
can help reduce eyestrain.
Clean your hands and contact lenses—properly. To
avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands
thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact
lenses. Disinfect contact lenses as instructed and
replace them as appropriate.

Resources: http://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basic_information/eye-health-tips.htm