Vision problems are to be expected with age, same as aching bones and reduced hearing. But they come with a darker side. Studies have found that poor vision leads to a higher dementia risk, according to Harvard Health, among other things.
Thus, eye health for seniors is no laughing matter during Healthy Vision Month. Failing to care for one's vision prevents one from enjoying their twilight years, and not just because they can't see as well. Yet so many seniors only think about their vision when they go in for vision screenings -- ignoring everyday things they could be doing to improve eye health.
Today, we're taking a look at eye care tips. The following are five simple things you can try to do in Grand Prairie, TX, that will make a drastic difference in your senior eye health.
Spending hours looking at screens each day is so normalized that no one thinks twice about it. Yet any senior who's spent a long evening watching TV or surfing the web knows it's a recipe for blurry vision, ghosting, and eye irritation. While excessive screen usage doesn't pose any risk of permanent damage, according to the AAO, it definitely isn't good for your eyes.
For Healthy Vision Month, start with an overall reduction in how much time you dedicate to smartphones, tablets, and TVs. If you're used to watching three hours of television each day, maybe slim it down to one or two. A social media fast never hurts since, screen strain aside, getting away from social media is good for mental health, too.
Aside from this, experts recommend the 20-20-20 rule. Put simply, this is where every 20 minutes, you intentionally look away from your screen at some object at least 20 feet in the distance. Ideally, you should do this about every 20 minutes, even if you're only using a screen for a short period.
Aside from that, consider swapping screen time for non-screen time. Your living community has amenities like a landscape campus for you to take a stroll around. Visit the arts and crafts studio, or maybe take a trip to the Betty Warmack Library, instead of doomscrolling.
Eyes are incredibly sensitive organs that only have eyelashes and eyelids to protect them. You've experienced for yourself how easy it is to get an eye infection from something as simple as, say, not properly cleaning contact lenses. Practicing better hygiene in regards to your eyes is key to keeping them healthy and happy.
Most tips in this category are simple, such as washing your hands or using clean towels to dry them. If you've been cooking or working in the garden, avoid rubbing your eyes. If you use a sleep mask, then make sure it's clean and dust-free.
Other tips will serve you well. For example, say you dolled yourself up for a senior activity like a live music festival. Take five minutes before bed to remove the mascara or eyeliner rather than sleeping in it.
For some types of activities, eye protection is a no-brainer. You wouldn't go without it while working in construction, for example. Yet in many other ways, people fail to use it when they should.
For example, suppose you join a pickleball tournament on the senior event calendar. The pickleball could easily hit you in the face and give you a black eye -- or worse. Wearing eye protection costs you nothing, yet it keeps you prepared for edge cases where you could get an eye injury.
Other types of eye protection may be a sort you never considered, like wearing sunglasses. Ideally, you should wear sunglasses anytime you go outside in strong sunlight. Sunlight doesn't just hurt; the UV rays increase your risk of macular degeneration and other forms of eye disease.
Exercise is great for your body and for your mind, but at first glance, it may seem like it has nothing to do with eye health. Believe it or not, it's just what the doctor ordered -- almost literally. Several of the benefits of exercise -- like improving blood flow and reducing oxidative stress -- have indirect benefits for your eyes.
Luckily, there's no specific type of exercise that's better for eye health than another kind. Effective exercise just needs to be vigorous, increasing your heart rate and making you breathe more heavily. Regardless, any kind of physical activity, such as going for a walk, is better than doing nothing at all.
Also, take into account how frequently you perform vigorous exercise. You should earmark at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week, for exercise. If you're struggling to find the motivation to exercise, then going with friends may help.
Eating well and cutting back on smoking are two other indirect methods of aging vision care. Include more nutrient-rich foods in your diet, especially those with vitamin A, C, and omega-3 fatty acids. Supplements are helpful if you're not able to find foods that have them.
These nutrients may reduce the likelihood of acquiring various eye-related diseases, such as macular degeneration. Try getting more of:
Smoking is another surprising area where you can really do your vision a solid. Your lungs aren't the only things that suffer when you light up. Cataract awareness matters here, since you're at higher risk for things like cataracts when you use nicotine products.
Healthy Vision Month is here, and we've provided some simple senior wellness tips to get you started. Start small by using screens less and washing your hands more. If you're really dedicated, then getting more exercise and kicking your smoking habit will be just the thing your eyes need.
Morada Grand Prairie in Texas prides itself as a friendly, welcoming senior community. We provide great amenities to get your blood pumping, and plenty of social activities to get you away from those screens -- all great for your eyes. Schedule a tour to see why Morada has become a highly-rated community for seniors.