Improving Your Eye Health

National Eye Health Week kicks off this week, promoting the importance of regular eye exams. With that in mind, there are several simple steps one can take to help maintain ocular health:

Smoking cessation.  Chemicals found in tobacco smoke may cause damage to your eye’s intricate structure and its highly delicate surface. This can lead to conditions such as macular degeneration, dry eyes, or nuclear cataracts. Some of these conditions may be initially asymptotic and thus a comprehensive eye exam is imperative.

Maintain a healthy diet. Most people are unaware of how foods can affect one’s vision. A balanced diet is crucial, which should include a variety of nutrients in additions to those found in fruits and vegetables as well as in foods like fish and nuts. Omega-3 fish oil is effective in keeping the blood vessels of the eye healthy while Lutein/Zeaxathin, as well as numerous vitamins, including vitamins A, C and E may help combat free radical formation.  Supplementation may be a necessity.  Ask your eye care provider to determine which vitamin supplement is right for you.

Take a rest from your screen. Most people spend over eight hours a day looking at a screen, which can lead to eye fatigue, headaches and may even cause damage to the eye due to excessive blue light exposure. To avoid straining your eyes, use the rule of 20-20-20. Every twenty minutes you’re staring at a computer screen, try and get in the habit of staring at something twenty feet away from you for at least twenty seconds. A comprehensive eye exam is also imperative to evaluate overall eye health.

This information is presented by Retina Macula Specialists of Miami, the largest private retina practice in the city. We are a nationally acclaimed retina practice dedicated to the medical and surgical management of vitreoretinal diseases. Each of our extensively trained doctors are Diplomates of the American Board of Ophthalmology and are highly qualified to treat a wide variety of retinal conditions including but not limited to diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, macular problems like macular holes, age-related macular degeneration treatment, and CSR. We have three convenient locations in Miami, Coral Gables, and North Miami Beach. For contact information or to request an appointment, please visit https://www.retinamaculamiami.com.