To protect your healthy eyes, schedule an exam every year with an eye doctor. Your ophthalmologist can detect vision problems early on and provide appropriate treatments. An ophthalmologist near Chicago can also recommend healthy eye care habits to preserve your vision , some of which are outlined in this video.

This video features actress and cookbook author Deirdre Hall, who explains that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) runs in her family. She gets her eyes checked by an optician each year and eats a healthy diet filled with plenty of vibrantly colored fruits and vegetables. This video also explains why lifestyle choices that can improve your cardiovascular health are also healthy for your eyes.

As you age, you become more vulnerable to certain eye conditions and diseases. These conditions can cause impaired vision and even blindness if they aren’t treated by an eye doctor. If you’re getting older, an eye doctor or ophthalmologist near Chicago can help you maintain the health of your eyes. Keep reading for some valuable tips on how to protect your eyes as you age.

Eat a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet can go a long way towards maintaining the health of your eyes. Fresh, leafy greens, fruits, and a diet rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and antioxidants can greatly reduce your risk of developing eye conditions or diseases. Cataracts and macular degeneration occur much less often in those who eat healthy diets that are rich in vitamins, minerals, healthy proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein. You should also consume plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and protein, and water.

Take Eye Vitamins and Vision Supplements

Nutritional supplements combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise can significantly lower your risk of vision problems and eye conditions. Beta-carotene, zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin E are crucial for maintaining the health of your eyes. Your eye doctor may recommend that you take a daily multivitamin that also contains lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids, and copper—and supplement that multivitamin with a daily dose of vitamin B complex with folic acid.

Visit an Eye Doctor Regularly

The best way to detect an eye condition early enough to receive successful treatment is by regular visits to an eye doctor or ophthalmologist. Your eye doctor can do regular screenings for macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, astigmatism, and eye cancer. The sooner these eye conditions are diagnosed, the more effective your treatment will be. Your eye doctor can also recommend nutritional and lifestyle changes that will decrease your risk of developing certain dangerous eye conditions.

It sounds counterintuitive to eat your way to better eye health, but the truth is that nutrients in some foods can prevent eye disease and vision loss. You’ve probably heard that of carrots and leafy greens boost eye health, but there are numerous other foods that help you keep your vision.

Unsurprisingly, snacking your way to eye health starts in the produce section. A good rule of thumb is to pick fruits and vegetables of vibrant and deep coloring, which indicates high nutritional content, especially of vitamin A, which is crucial to eye health. But nutrient-rich foods aren’t just in the produce section: fish, nuts, and eggs all provide essential nutrients that can prevent macular degeneration and cataracts.

Remember, it’s important to eat with your eyes in mind. Since a lot of eye diseases can be prevented, it’s never too late to start adding foods for eye health to your diet.

You may already know that scheduling comprehensive eye exams each year with an ophthalmologist near Chicago is an effective way to protect your healthy vision. But did you know that sports, workplace hazards, and yard work are the leading causes of eye injuries? Talk to your ophthalmologist about preventive eye care. He or she is likely to recommend that you wear safety glasses that offer side protection to reduce your risk of vision loss due to eye injuries.

For more helpful tips on protecting your vision, watch this video and consult an ophthalmologist. This expert discusses why you can’t rely on regular eyeglasses to protect your eyes from injuries caused by airborne yard debris, chemicals, or blunt force trauma.