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May –– National Vision Month
By Christina Reiter , BSN , CCN
When it comes to our health , we often visit our doctor or nurse regularly to make sure our bodies are healthy , but what about our eyesight ? It ’ s not always on the top of our minds , but just as important , if not more , as the health of the rest of us . During 2016 ’ s Healthy Vision Month , the National Eye Institute hopes to empower all Americans to make eye health a priority and strives to educate us all about steps we can take to protect our vision in the long run . Here are a few of their most important tips : 1 . See your eye doctor every year to get a dilated eye exam . Getting dilated eye exams on a yearly basis can detect problems early , when they ’ re easier to treat .
2 . Live a Healthy Lifestyle . Specifically , a healthy lifestyle involves :
COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | MAY / JUNE 2016
Watch Dr . Donna Barksy on Good Morning Texas on May 17th and hear her discussion on Diabetes .
Good Morning Texas airs 9-10am on WFAA-TV .
a .) Maintaining a Healthy Weight . Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions , which can lead to vision loss , such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma . b .) Eat Right . Make it a priority to eat carotenoid-rich foods , such as deep colored root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes ; fruits such as tomatoes ; and dark-green leafy vegetables . These foods are known to increase your eyes ’ defenses against oxidative damage and free radical conditions . Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids ( and particularly those high in DHA ), such as salmon , tuna , and halibut , keeping the blood from sticking to itself in excess .
3 . Take a Good Quality , Broad-Spectrum Antioxidant . Talk to your clinical nutritionist or local pharmacist to point you in the right direction to find one appropriate for your needs . They can help you find an antioxidant that is rich in naturally-occurring antioxidants ( as opposed to synthetic ones ). Pharmaceutical-grade supplements supply antioxidants to augment what is perhaps deficient in the diet , but also found in nature . Naturally-occurring antioxidants are those the body recognizes and uses readily . Pharmaceutical-grade supple-