More physicians than ever are starting to move their practices away from reactive medicine and toward preventative medicine. Although some eye conditions are caused by genetic predisposition, uncontrollable environmental factors and age, others can be successfully prevented or slowed down. Diet, exercise, and balance in life are key to living your best life, inside and out.
Here are some recommended tips for keeping your eyes healthy:
- Eat right – Our eyes need specific nutrients like vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals to perform optimally. Although certain foods are more eye-friendly than others, you can improve your eyesight and your overall health by remembering to eat a healthy mix. Aim to eat colorful veggies instead of iceberg lettuce, incorporate berries into your intake of fruit, and eat more fatty fish like salmon and sardines. Processed foods are not only devoid of these essential nutrients, they can also increase the risk of health conditions like diabetes, which can affect eyesight over time. Stick with whole, fresh or frozen foods and keep a couple of simple recipes on hand to reduce the number of times you reach for a package instead of preparing something from scratch.
- Exercise your body and your eyes – Regular exercise improves blood flow, which is vital for visual health. Humans need strength training and cardio to keep our metabolisms running high. In addition to traditional exercise, you can also try some eye exercises to combat fatigue. Use a warm compress to add heat and moisture to your eyes. Focus on a small object at arm’s length and bring it in toward your nose to improve your ability to change focus, particularly if you work in front of computer.
- Don’t forget rest – Stress, strain, and too much activity can hurt your vision and eye health over time. Try to take regular breaks from activities that require intense focus. Get enough sleep every night, and don’t forget to remove your contacts. Anytime your eyes hurt or you feel stressed, take a 3-5 minute break. Close your eyes, set a timer, and relax for a moment.
- Wear your glasses – Failing to wear your glasses when you need them can strain your eyes unnecessarily. Wear glasses of the appropriate strength to help you see clearly and follow your physician’s recommendation for use. Sunglasses are also an important part of vision and eye health. Wear them outside to protect your eyes from UV rays.
- Hydrate – Our eyes are mostly liquid, and dehydration can wreak havoc on our vision and the way our eyes feel. If you’ve ever had red, itchy, or scratchy eyes from dehydration, you understand how important water is to our vision. Try to drink your recommended daily intake in water, not caffeinated beverages, fruit juice, or soda.
Trying to live a balanced life is one of the best ways you can protect your vision and your eye health. These tips are great for preventing eyesight from getting worse and improving certain eye conditions and overall health.
Bojan Kozomara (Banjaluka, 30. decembra 1978) je doktor medicine, specijalista oftamologije i direktor specijalne oftalmološke bolnice Svjetlost Banja Luka.
U svom rodnom gradu završio je Gimnaziju i Medicinski fakultet, a 2009. godine specijalizovao se za oblast oftamologije. 2016. godine postao je magistar medicinskih nauka iz oblasti oftamologije, a svoju profesiju usavršio je na Klinici za očne bolesti, VMA Beograd, Srbija, te na Klinici Oculistica Universita „Careggi“, u Firenci, Italija. Nakon završene specijalizacije u Italiji, odlučio se vratiti u rodnu Banjaluku i tu pokrenuti privatnu kliniku, koja će za vrlo kratko vrijeme postati popularna i prepoznatljiva u regionu, ali i svijetu.
