Taking care of the eyes

by Sarah Brainard Marsh

Sunscreen? check. Extra water, cool clothing, and bug repellent? Check. You are set for the strong summer rays, bugs, and high humidity. Or are you? There may be one important part of your body not being protected against the sun and other factors. Most of us take our sense of sight for granted. We have always been able to see the beautiful colors of a sunrise and know just what familiar face is coming our way. It is hard to imagine a life without sight, but approximately 3.4 million Americans over age 40 are blind or visually impaired.

The eyes are a window to your inner body, especially when it comes to health. Healthy eyes are often a by-product of a healthy body. So it turns out those carrots your mom used to make you eat were good for your eyes, as well as the rest of your body. You can lower the risk of eye disease and vision loss by: staying active, not smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke, eating healthy foods, controlling your blood pressure, and protecting your eyes from the sun. Smoking can increase your risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. We all know that eating nutrient rich foods will keep us trim and help avoid obesity related disease, but will also decrease our risks of developing diabetes and diabetic eye diseases. Those at risk of developing AMD can benefit from zinc, vitamins C and E, and beta carotene. A diet full of dark green vegetables such as spinach and kale is also particularly helpful in reducing risks of AMD. Speak to your doctor about AMD and get your blood pressure checked regularly. High blood pressure is hard on your heart and your eyes as it can increase your risk of developing glaucoma.

There are many ways to keep your eyes safe from injury and harm. One of the easiest ways to protect your eyes and reduce your risk of eye disease and loss of vision is to protect them from the sun. UV rays are just as damaging to the eyes as they are to the skin. However, our eyes are exposed to UV rays even more than our skin as we need them to be open to enjoy any outdoor activity, all year round. UV rays can be related to eye diseases such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and skin cancer around the eyes. These rays also cause corneal sunburn which can lead to temporary vision loss.

While spending time outdoors, even in the winter, wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses that absorb 99-100% of UVB and UVA rays. Regular glasses can also be coated to block out damaging rays. Choose sunglasses that fit well and cover your eye from all directions. UV rays can come from under, above, or the side of your face from glare off water, snow, asphalt, or buildings, and sunglasses or a hat should protect all of these angles. Sunglasses should also reduce glare, should not distort colors, and be darkly colored while near water or snow. It is especially important for children to wear sunglasses as their eyes have even less ability than adults to filter out harmful rays. Choose glasses that are 99-100% UV blocking, and are large enough to shield your child's eyes from all angles. Consider a wide brimmed hat for your child as well. A well-fitting hat can cut UV eye exposure in half.

Keep your sight sharp and set on many years of enjoying beautiful summer scenery and the sight of loved ones by taking care of your eyes!