Table of contents:
- Guidelines for maintaining eye health of the elderly
- 1. Perform regular eye examinations
- 2. Nutrition is the key to eye health
- 3. Always wear sunglasses outside the home
- 4. Stop smoking
- 5. Exercise regularly
- 6. Use good lighting
- 7. Limit the length of time staring at the computer screen
- 8. Get enough sleep
As we get older, our vision function will decline. No wonder almost everyone aged 65 years and over needs to wear glasses. There are various ways to maintain eye health in the elderly, one of which is to carry out regular eye examinations, so that the chances of your vision function getting better and remain clear. In addition, nutritious nutrition for the eyes is also very helpful in improving eye health in the elderly.
Guidelines for maintaining eye health of the elderly
Here are 8 tips you need to do to keep your eyes healthy in your parents.
1. Perform regular eye examinations
Regular eye examinations are important checks on the health of your eyes. In addition to checking whether your eyeglass lenses still fit you, eye examinations can also detect eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts, as well as other common health problems such as diabetes and hypertension.
2. Nutrition is the key to eye health
Choose foods rich in antioxidants, namely foods that contain vitamins A and C, such as green vegetables and fish. Many types of food, especially fish, contain omega-3s (essential fatty acids) which are very important in maintaining the health of the macula, the inner part of the eye that is responsible for central vision.
Insufficient intake of antioxidants, coupled with excessive consumption of alcohol and saturated fats, can cause free radical reactions that can damage the macula. A high-fat diet can also cause blockage of blood vessels. The eyes are very sensitive to this, due to the small size of the blood vessels so that if there is a blockage in the blood vessels, the blood flow to the eye will decrease and cause the eyes to be malnourished.
3. Always wear sunglasses outside the home
UV rays from sunlight can damage your eyes and can increase your risk of cataracts. Using sunglasses or contact lenses with UV protection can protect your eyes.
4. Stop smoking
Smoking can increase the levels of oxidative stress in your eyes. Although the mechanism of occurrence is not clear, it has been shown in studies that have been done that smoking increases the risk of eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
5. Exercise regularly
The eyes need good blood circulation and oxygen intake, both of which are stimulated by regular exercise. Regular exercise also helps maintain your weight, and lowers the risk of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. Remember to wear sunglasses with UV protection when doing outdoor sports.
6. Use good lighting
To be able to see well, your eyes need 3 times more light when you are 60 years old than when you are 20 years old. You need to increase the sunlight that enters your house, as well as ensure good electric lighting, especially at the top and bottom of the stairs, so that you can see clearly when you go up and down the stairs. For reading or work, use a flexible table lamp, then positioned so that the light does not cause glare in the eyes.
7. Limit the length of time staring at the computer screen
After 2 hours of staring at a computer screen, you can experience tension in your eye muscles. Here are tips for reducing eye muscle tension due to fatigue staring at a computer screen:
- Maintain a 50-60 cm distance from the computer screen to the eye
- Keep the top of the computer screen slightly below eye level
- Use eye drops to prevent dry eyes
- Adjust the exposure to reduce glare on the screen
- Take a break every 15 minutes to focus on a distant object
- Blinking frequently
8. Get enough sleep
When you sleep, your eyes are continuously lubricated so that moisture is maintained. In addition, during sleep, the eyes cleanse themselves of irritants such as dust, allergens, or smoke that accumulate during the day.
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