Healthy Eye and Vision

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• QHow should I care for my vision as I grow older?

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  A American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart answered

  Many eye diseases and disorders become more common as we age. Advances in ophthalmology allow most people to maintain good vision as they grow older. Many eye problems can be prevented or corrected if detected in their early stages. Most older people have good vision. If you do develop a vision problem, early diagnosis and treatment by an ophthalmologist can help to preserve your sight.

  Regular eye examinations by an ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) are the best way to detect eye conditions early, while they can be treated. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.) with special training and skills to diagnose and treat all diseases and disorders of the eye. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends an eye disease screening at age 40. Based on the results of the initial screening, your ophthalmologist will let you know how often to return for follow-up exams.

  Adults 65 years and older should have an eye exam every one to two years, as recommended by your ophthalmologist. The following are eye problems commonly experienced by older people.

  • Presbyopia
  • Floaters
  • Cataract
  • Glaucoma
  • Macular degeneration
  • Diabetic eye problems

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• QHow can the sun damage your eyes?

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  A RealAge answered

  Everyone should be wearing sunglasses to help prevent sun damage around the eyes, says Ellen Marmur, MD, associate professor of dermatology and genetics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Believe it or not, eyelids are one of the most common places to find skin cancer. You can even get melanoma in the eyes. Chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure can cause premature aging around your eyes. Tear-free baby sunscreens can help protect delicate eye skin, but sunglasses and broad-rimmed hats will shield and protect your vision to boot. Wear sunglasses whenever you're outside—year-round, and even on cloudy days. Look for shades that offer more than 95 percent UV protection. Lenses that offer 100 percent UV protection may be labeled "UV400."

• QHow can I boost antioxidant levels in my body to preserve my eye health?

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  A Dole Nutrition Institute answered

  Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant enzyme, manufactured in the body, that functions as part of the defense system for the lenses of your eyes. When glutathione levels are deficient, the eyes are more vulnerable to oxidative damage. Nutrients required to increase glutathione levels include selenium and vitamins C and E.

  Top vitamin C sources include oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, papayas, kiwis, green peppers, red bell peppers and tomatoes.

  Top vitamin E sources include almonds, pecans, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds, dark, leafy greens and vegetable oils (e.g., safflower and corn).

  Top selenium sources include Brazil nuts (with a whopping 95.8 micrograms per nut), snapper and shrimp.

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• QWill doing eye exercises improve my vision?

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  A Dr. Laura C. Fine, MD , Ophthalmology, answered

  Eye exercises will not improve or preserve vision or reduce the need for glasses. Your vision depends on many factors, including the shape of your eye and the health of the eye tissues, none of which can be significantly altered with eye exercises.
• QWhy do I need protective eyewear for doing lawn work?

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  A Dr. Wayne Bizer , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart

  You should always wear safety glasses when using garden tools or mowing. About 2.5 million eye injuries occur each year in the United States. Nearly half of these accidents occur in and around the home. The garden is a common place for injuries to occur. Mowing the lawn, using a line trimmer on weeds, or trimming branches or shrubs can be dangerous without protective eyewear.
  
  The good news is that most injuries can be prevented. That's why the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that every household have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear for use during household projects, such as gardening, that put your eyes at risk.
• QHow can I keep my eyes healthy if I have diabetes?

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  A Dr. Manvi P. Maker , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystem

  Keeping your blood sugar under control is a great start. Other things that can help are regular exercise, blood pressure and cholesterol control, and getting a yearly dilated fundus eye exam by an ophthalmologist. Early diabetic eye changes may not initially affect your vision, so these changes can unfortunately go undetected and untreated by patients. Therefore, a good eye exam is an important factor in taking care of your eyes if you have diabetes.

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• QAre carrots really good for your eyes?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  When it comes to your eyes, Popeye trumps Bugs Bunny. While carrots are good for your eyes, they aren't as powerful as spinach. Research shows that your eyes enjoy more protective benefits from the lutein found in spinach than the beta-carotene found in carrots. That's what's up, doc.

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• QHow can I avoid eye problems as I get older?

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  A Dr. Laura C. Fine, MD , Ophthalmology, answered

  Although aging puts people at greater risk for serious eye disease and other eye problems, loss of sight need not go hand in hand with growing older. Practical, preventive measures can help protect against devastating impairment. An estimated 40% to 50% of all blindness can be avoided or treated, mainly through regular visits to a vision specialist.
  
  Regular eye exams are the cornerstone of visual health as people age. Individuals who have a family history of eye disease or other risk factors should have more frequent exams. Don't wait until your vision deteriorates to have an eye exam. One eye can often compensate for the other while an eye condition progresses. Frequently, only an exam can detect eye disease in its earliest stages.
  
  You can take other steps on your own. First, if you smoke, stop. Smoking increases the risk of several eye disorders, including age-related macular degeneration. Next, take a look at your diet. Maintaining a nutritious diet, with lots of fruits and vegetables and minimal saturated fats and hydrogenated oils, promotes sound health and may boost your resistance to eye disease. Wearing sunglasses and hats is important for people of any age. Taking the time to learn about the aging eye and recognizing risks and symptoms can alert you to the warning signs of vision problems.
  
  Although eyestrain, spending many hours in front of a television or computer screen, or working in poor light does not cause harmful medical conditions, they can tire the eyes and, ultimately, their owner. The eyes are priceless and deserve to be treated with care and respect -- and that is as true for the adult of 80 as it is for the teenager of 18.

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• QWhat can I do to prevent computer vision syndrome (CVS)?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Cutting your screen time is the primary way to prevent computer vision syndrome (CVS). But if you must have your eyes on the screen, the following will also help:

  • Look away: Rest your eyes if you're using the computer for extended periods. After two hours, take a 15-minute break. And, for every 20 minutes of use, look away for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away (the 20-20-20 rule); this will allow time for your eyes to refocus.
  • Blink: We normally blink about 15 times a minute, but when we're at a screen, we blink much less. Staring at a computer can result in dry eyes, which can be painful and irritating. To keep the front surface of your eye moist, blink frequently. It's also wise to keep some lubricating drops handy. (Another way to avoid dry eye is to steer clear of air that blows directly in your face and by running a humidifier if the air in the room is dry.)
  • Sit properly: Besides sitting on a comfortable, padded chair that conforms well to your body and sitting with your feet flat on the floor, the American Optometric Association suggests that you sit about 25 inches from the screen (or about arm's length). The screen should be positioned so that you are looking in a slightly downward position.
  • Cut the glare: Since many screens are glass, they give off considerable glare. You can reduce it by using a matte screen filter.
  • Adjust the brightness: The screen should not be brighter than the surrounding light; if it is, your eyes will have to work even harder to see. To reduce eyestrain, try adjusting the lighting in your room and at the same time, increasing the contrast on your screen.

  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

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• QWhat causes computer vision syndrome (CVS)?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Unlike words printed on a page that have sharply defined edges, electronic characters (which are made up of pixels) have blurred edges, making it more difficult for eyes to maintain focus. Unconsciously, the eyes repeatedly attempt to rest by shifting their focus to an area behind the screen, and this constant switch between screen and relaxation point creates eyestrain and fatigue.
  
  Even if you wear glasses or contacts, you're susceptible because your prescription might not match up to the specific viewing distances of your screen, thus creating eyestrain. This makes it even tougher to focus and can also cause you to twist and turn and bend your head into all sorts of funny angles to help with focus -- hence the headaches and neck pain that are also a part of computer vision syndrome (CVS).
  
  There are other contributing culprits at work here: Many times, along with reading on these devices come glare, poor seating posture, bad lighting, improper viewing distances and vision problems that are uncorrected to begin with (like farsightedness and astigmatism). And then, like many other health problems, the changes that occur in your eyes with aging factors into it, too.
  
  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.

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