Eye health tips for your loved one

As we get older, our eyesight changes and often we need to start wearing glasses and become more aware of eye health.

It is completely normal that our eyes change with age but it is important to be aware of how you can keep your eyes as healthy as possible.

To help keep your loved ones eyes healthy, Healthdirect.gov.au has outlined some tips on how your loved one can keep their eyes healthy and vision clear.

Have regular eye tests

In order to make sure your eyes are healthy, it is vital to have your eyes checked out by an optometrist who is trained to assess your vision.

An eye test not only picks up on eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts, but it can identify general health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Glaucoma and macular degeneration are diseases that may lead to blindness.

Wear the correct lenses

As eye tests can identify any vision issues, it can also identify whether your current glasses or lenses are appropriate for the current state of your vision.

It is important to wear the correct prescription lenses. The correct lenses will not only reduce the risk of accidents such as falls, but also your loved ones quality of life.

Make sure to ask your optometrist if you are eligible for any financial help with the costs of optical lenses.

Stay healthy

Eye tests and wearing the correct lenses are only a few elements under a big umbrella that help to keep your eyes healthy. There are various health, wellbeing and lifestyle factors that can keep your eyes healthy.

Eating and sleeping well are not only important for general health but also your eyes. If you were told by your parents when you were a child that eating carrots can keep your eyes healthy, they were right to some extent. Eating plenty of vegetables and fruits can prevent certain eye diseases such as cataracts from forming. It can also help keep you at a healthy, reducing your risk of developing diabetes which is linked to sight loss.

Such diseases can also be avoided by having a good sleep routine as your eyes are continuously lubricated and irritants such as dust is removed.

Exercise is also healthy for your loved ones eyes. Doing daily walks or other forms of exercise, improve circulation and oxygen intake. Both are very important for our eyes.

Lifestyle choices such as choosing good lighting can help reduce strain with your eyes. In order to see well, your eyes need three times as much light when you are 60 as they did when you were 20. To tackle this, your loved one may want to pull the curtains back or wipe the windows to increase the daylight in their homes.

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