Women's Eye Health And Safety Month: Tips To Maintain Eye Health For Women

by Admin
April 14, 2022

Did you know that women are more prone to vision problems than men? Women are at a higher risk for eye disease after the age of fifty, particularly glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. There are several potential reasons as to why women are more prone to eye disorders. Women have an increased risk of developing autoimmune disorders and experiencing age-related hormonal changes, and women typically have a longer lifespan than men. Fortunately, women can take proactive steps to protect their vision. By following these tips, women can protect their vision, their eye health, and their overall health.

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How To Protect Your Eyes

Wear Protective Eyewear
Your eyes are extremely delicate, therefore you must take the correct measures to protect them from UV exposure and accidents. Wear sunglasses that block out both UVA and UVB rays to lower your risk of developing eye tumors or cataracts. It is also important that you wear protective eyewear when you play sports as well as if you work in an industry that requires you to wear PPE and other protective equipment. This will lower your risk of an accidental injury to your eye that could severely affect your vision and even cause blindness.

Understand Potential Risks
Understanding your family's past medical history will help you to know if you are at risk for any eye health problems such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and more. Obesity, hypertension, thyroid problems, and diabetes also increase the risk of eye disease. Make sure to exercise regularly and receive regular eye examinations if you suffer from any of these health problems or know that you are at risk of certain eye diseases based on your family’s past medical history.

Eat A Healthy Diet
A balanced diet plays an essential role in women's overall health, but certain nutrients can also specifically boost eye health. The antioxidant lutein has been proven to protect against age-related macular degeneration, a disease where part of the retina called the macula is damaged. Lutein can be found in dark, leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and broccoli. Other antioxidants such as vitamin A, E, and C, minerals, and Omega 3 fatty acids are also essential for eye health.

Watch For Vision Problems
Hormonal changes during menopause and pregnancy can affect your vision. Water retention during pregnancy can change the quality of your vision and you may experience dry eyes. Dry eyes are also common during menopause as are eye redness and heaviness in the eyelids. Beware of these changes as you get older and be sure to visit your eye doctor as soon as you notice a slight change in your vision.

Visit Your Optometrist Regularly
Regular comprehensive eye exams will help prevent eye disease, vision loss, and eye infections. Many eye diseases develop without showing signs or symptoms until eye health is already impacted, sometimes irreversibly. By visiting your eye doctor regularly, they will be able to detect eye health concerns or signs of disease early and formulate treatment plans to prevent further progression and protect or restore your vision. An eye doctor can also detect other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. Adults are recommended to visit their optometrist every two years and adults over the age of 65 are recommended to visit their optometrist annually.

Eye Exams Calgary At Sunridge Eye Clinic

It is important to take care of your vision to ensure you can see and enjoy life's most precious moments for years to come. By understanding your risks of developing potential eye disorders and diseases, visiting your optometrist regularly for an exam, and by protecting your eyes on a daily basis by wearing protective eyewear, you will be on the right track to healthy and quality vision for the long term.

To find out if you are at risk of eye health problems such as cataracts or to book an eye exam to check the quality of your vision, contact Sunridge Eye Clinic. Our experienced optometrists can assess your vision and develop a personal treatment plan to help you see clearly. Book a comprehensive adult or senior eye exam today by calling 1-403-280-7518 or book online.

FAQ

Q: At what age are adults at risk to start developing cataracts?
A: Individuals 40+ are the most at risk of developing cataracts.

Q: How long is a comprehensive eye exam?
A: A comprehensive eye exam will last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the tests performed by your optometrist.

Q: Is there a cure for cataracts?
A: Unfortunately there is not. There are, however, measures your optometrist will take to slow down the progression of the disease to help you retain as much of your vision as possible.