“New Year, New Me!” How to Keep Your Eyes Healthy in 2024

For many people the eyes are as beautiful as they are mysterious. Following a few simple tips can help keep the eyes seeing (and looking!) great.

1)    Diet Matters

A healthy diet can help improve eye health and potentially vision. Foods high in antioxidants, like spinach, kale, and blueberries, may reduce the risk of macular degeneration. A diet rich in omega-3s (ex. fish) may also improve or reduce the risk of developing dry eye by improving the eye's oil production.

2)    Be Shady

UV can be extremely damaging to the eyes. UV exposure can cause growths in and around the eyes, can worsen cataracts, and is also a risk factor for the development of macular degeneration. Wearing sunglasses with a good UV filter will help protect your eyes and reduce your risk of developing these conditions.

3)    Get a Physical

Health conditions in the rest of the body can potentially affect your eyes. For example, uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can all potentially affect your eye health and vision. Having regular physicals with a family doctor will help identify these health problems early, before they can potentially impact your eye health.

4)    Eye Care is Self-Care

Poor ocular hygiene can affect how your eyes look and feel. Crusting on the eyelashes called blepharitis can be unsightly, irritating, and damaging to the eyes. Poor eye hygiene in general can increase your risk of eye infections like styes, as well as dry eye.

Lid wipes are used to clean off the dirt, debris and bacteria that can cause blepharitis. Artificial tears can help the eyes feel more comfortable and look better. Artificial tears can also potentially improve any dry eye-related blurriness. Warm compresses can help clear out any clogged oil glands, improve your tear production, and reduce your ocular dryness. I always incorporate eye hygiene into my night-time skin care routine.

5) Quit Smoking and Vaping

 It's no secret that smoking is bad for your health, but did you know it's bad for your eye health as well? Smoking can greatly increase your risk of developing macular degeneration. Basically, smoking damages the protective antioxidants in the retina, leading to the formation of harmful fatty deposits called drusen. This drusen can then cause retinal tissue damage and vision loss.

6)    New Isn’t Always Better…But It Could Be!

Companies are always improving their eye products or releasing new products to help with eye health and vision. Newer contact lens brands usually provide better optics and are more breathable. For glasses, companies are always updating their lens options to try and improve how people see.  Having a conversation with your optometrist about what’s new in the world of eyecare can help ensure you’re using the best products and technologies available for your eyes.

7)    So...When Was Your Last Eye Exam?

It is recommended that people have an eye exam every 1 to 2 years. Even if you don’t feel that there has been a change in your vision, it is important to have your eyes examined on a regular basis to screen for ocular disease and to find out if there is a change in the prescription. If it has been a while since your last eye exam (or if you have never had an eye exam), be sure to get your eyes checked in 2024 so that you can be confident in both your vision and your eye health.

As we ring in the New Year, be sure to make eye health a part of your 2024 New Year’s resolution!