Healthy Vision Month: Eye Health Tips for Camby Seniors
The American Optometric Association reports that vision can change drastically in your sixties. If you're a senior in Camby, IN, you may be wondering how to keep your vision in check and maintain healthy eyesight.
Healthy Vision Month, observed in May, promotes regular eye exams, vision awareness, and healthy eye habits. But what can you start doing today to ensure your eyes will stay functional into your golden years?
This article explores eye health tips and how Camby wellness programs assist you in caring for your eyes. Read on to learn more!
Wear Your Glasses If Prescribed
It's important that if you need glasses to see, you should wear them when recommended. Not wearing them can cause problems such as:
- Worsening vision
- Eye strain
- Eye itchiness
- Headaches
- Blurry vision
If you are new to glasses, start by wearing them for short periods to adjust. When you've gone years without seeing properly, being able to see clearly can be overwhelming.
Ask your eye doctor for recommendations on adjusting to your glasses. They may recommend wearing them in specified intervals.
When you choose the right pair, glasses can not only enhance your vision -- they can upgrade your style. Buying a fashionable pair of frames means you are more likely to wear them and feel confident while doing so.
Protect Your Eyes in the Sun
When you go out into the sun, you may think about slathering on sunscreen to protect your skin. However, protecting your eyes from damage is as crucial for your overall health.
Sunglasses are a vital tool for making sure you don't expose your eyes to harmful UV rays. Even on cloudy days, these types of rays can still cause unseen damage.
Too much unprotected sun exposure can cause the following eye symptoms:
- Eyelid cancer: Overexposure to UV rays can cause skin cancer on any part of the body, including the eyelids.
- Sunburn on the eyelid: Your eyelids are just as susceptible to sunburn as the rest of your body and can get painful, swollen, and red.
- Solar retinopathy: Staring directly at the sun can damage the retina at the back of the eye, resulting in temporary vision loss.
- Cataracts: A long-term condition that causes cloudiness to form over the lenses, which can be accelerated by exposure to UV rays.
- Macular degeneration: Vision loss from the macula, or the center of the eye, can be caused by excessive sunlight.
- Photokaratitis: Often caused by sunlight reflecting off snow or water, the cornea becomes painful and inflamed with sunburn symptoms.
Keeping a pair of sunglasses in your bag is easier, more cost-effective, and less painful than dealing with eye damage. If you have other vision problems, consider investing in prescription sunglasses.
Schedule Eye Exams Regularly
As you grow older, you may need to visit the eye doctor more often. Make sure to get vital exams, such as retinal screening, to ensure your eyes are healthy and free of dangerous conditions.
If you have preexisting eye conditions, it's best to visit annually. Most vision insurances cover an annual eye exam and annual or biannual benefits, such as:
- Lens allowance
- Frames allowance
- Contact lens allowance
- Exam copay
If you're at risk for other eye conditions, your eye doctor may ask about your family history of eye disease and monitor certain symptoms more closely.
Avoid Too Much Screen Time
With the abundance of technology available at your fingertips, it is easy to spend several hours a day in assisted living on your:
- Smartphone
- Tablet
- Computer
Excessive screen time can damage your eyes. Staring at a blue-light screen can cause itchy or tired eyes.
Avoid quick dopamine hits such as social media and video streaming sites, and replace them with healthier, analog habits. Instead of scrolling Facebook for an hour, read a book, or socialize with others in your senior community.
If you can't reduce screen time, consider setting app timers. You can configure your devices to allot a certain amount of time daily to specific apps and block access after the time is used up.
Sometimes, it is necessary to use screens for extended periods. To alleviate eye strain, use blue light glasses to filter harmful hues.
Take Care of Your Glasses
Glasses are an expensive investment, so it is important to keep them in good condition. Replacing frames or lenses, especially customized models, can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Some optometrists offer extended warranty plans. For a small fee, you can protect your glasses and get replacements within a specified time frame, such as a year.
Accident-prone seniors should consider add-on protections for their glasses. Add-ons such as impact resistance and anti-scratch coatings can extend the lifespan of your lenses and keep your vision sharp.
Always clean your lenses using a specialized glasses cleaning cloth. Even if your clothing seems clean, it can have hidden crumbs or sharp fibers, which may scratch your lenses quickly.
If you do not wear your glasses all the time, store them in a way that prevents further damage. For instance, keep prescription eyeglasses in a protective sleeve or hard case, rather than just in your bag or pocket.
Consider purchasing a backup pair of glasses for a lower price. This way, you will always be able to see, even if your primary pair suffers damage.
Celebrate Healthy Vision Month at Worthington Place
As you age, you should ensure your senior eye care regimen is at the top of your list for maintaining your overall health. With these eye health tips, you can tackle aging and vision effectively during your golden years.
Events like Healthy Vision Month are better at Worthington Place Assisted Living. Our vibrant community includes amenities such as a caring and attentive staff, a roster of engaging activities, and continuing care, so we can focus on caring for the whole body.
Are you ready to see how you can benefit from joining an assisted living community? Reach out to us today, or visit our beautiful location in Camby, IN. We can't wait to meet you!