Simple Ways to Maintain Eye Health Daily

How do we take care of our eyes? This is a question that may seem a little strange to some, but to those of us who have been diagnosed with macular degeneration, it’s one of the most important questions we could ever ask.

So much is out of our hands

A diagnosis of macular degeneration has the potential to really make a person feel worried. A lot of what happens with our eyes is out of our control and that can feel really terrifying. Upon diagnosis, many of us dwell on all the things we can’t change. Irreversible vision loss? Degeneration and expected progression? Loss of independence?

There’s also so much we can do

What if we flipped our mindset and focused on the things we do have control over? Though it is true that so much of what macular degeneration brings is out of our hands. But, what we can do for our eyes matters; taking care of our eyes makes a huge difference!

Here’s how:

Healthy diets

Eating healthy foods like colorful fruits and vegetables really is a surefire way to give our eyes the nutrients they need to maintain optimal health. Where we lack nutrients in our diets, we can supplement with doctor-recommended vitamins and supplements.

Staying hydrated is another quick and simple way to ensure our eyes remain moist and healthy. Drink, drink, drink (water that is!).

Protective gear all year round

Wearing sunglasses and hats when exposed to the sun is a simple and effective way to protect our retinas from harmful sun rays. Whether it’s summer, winter, or any day in between, everyone should protect their eyes from the sun.

Breaks for our eyes

Our eyes work hard for us all day, every day. It’s important to give them a break whenever we can. For me, this means making small changes like wearing my glasses more often, turning blue light off of electronic devices, being a passenger in the car whenever I can, and listening to audio books instead of reading.

Good hygiene

It’s always important to keep the skin around our eyes clean and moisturized. I always use a dye-free, fragrance-free lotion on my face to lessen the chance of irritation. Removing eye makeup each night before bed is really important as well. If you ever feel like you may have an infection or irritation that’s bothering you more than usual, contact your doctor to get it under control sooner rather than later.

Keeping our eyes moist

During the dry winter months, we can help keep our eyes moist and healthy by using humidifiers in rooms where we spend a lot of time. We can also use rewetting drops as needed, and allergy drops during seasons when allergies may be rampant. Dry, itchy eyes are no fun. Luckily, some of these issues are easy to keep under control.

Amsler Grid checks

In order to detect any possible changes in our vision, it’s important to use an Amsler Grid daily. This is a quick and simple tool to let us know when it may be time to see a doctor. Using an Amsler Grid can feel like one more thing to do in a day, but trust me, it’s an important thing to take time out for.

These are some simple ways to help our eyes maintain health on a daily basis. We don’t always have to make big changes in order to yield big benefits. Simple changes can really help our eyes be as healthy as possible.