Seeing Into The Future
This year’s National Eye Health Week (NEHW) takes place from 24th-30th September and aims to promote the importance of eye health, writes Tracy Hargreaves
I’ve recently been for a routine eye test, however on the back of that I’ve been referred to an eye specialist, due to an abnormality in one of my eyes. Fingers crossed it will all be okay, but I can’t stress enough about the importance of getting your eyes checked regularly. Yet it doesn’t seem to be done as often as people go to the dentist to check their teeth.
Even if you don’t have any vision problems, it is still important to get them checked, as other conditions can be picked up, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
Keeping your eyes in good health is not just about wearing sunglasses in the summer. It’s about protecting them all year round. Did you know that the link between smoking and sight loss is as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer? So, quit the cigarettes and you’ll feel better all round.
Diet can also play a massive part. Studies show that what we eat can affect our vision. Antioxidants can help to prevent retinal damage. One antioxidant which is hugely beneficial is lutein. Foods recommended for eye health include: broad leaf greens such as kale and spinach, brightly coloured fruit and veg such as corn, carrots, orange sweet peppers, oranges and oily fish.
Drinking alcohol to excess may also have an affect. Eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, age related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, are the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness in this country. Studies that have specifically examined the relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing these eye conditions have so far yielded mixed results, and as such the role of alcohol consumption on their development has not yet been established. Despite this, consuming alcohol within the recommended daily limits is the most sensible way to maintain good health and ultimately healthy eyes and good vision.
Make sure you wear your sunglasses in the sun, but don’t put them away on cloudy days or over winter. The charity, Eye Health UK advises that you wear sunglasses whenever the UV Index rises above three – this can occur even on a cloudy day, so keep an eye on the weather forecast.
Don’t forget to book an eye test during National Eye Health Week if you haven’t had one in the last two years. Not only might it improve your vision, but you’ll be able to see into the future.
