Preserving your Eyesight Now!
25/10/08 10:29
Preserve your eyesight now!
25/10/08 09:00
Peace Parish Nursing
October 2008 Susan Crosbie, RN-BSN
Preserve Your Eyesight Now
I recently went to the Northeast Eye Institute for my annual eye exam and spent a very informative hour with my new eye doctor. He asked me what I am doing to preserve my eyesight and avoid the problems that others in my family have. I said that I go for eye exams regularly and did not know of any specific things that could be done for my eyesight. I was very surprised to hear of some easy sight saving measures and to find that I am already doing some of them. Maybe you are too.
Our sight is a precious gift. Not all sight changes are age related, which means that just because we are all getting older we are doomed to come down with cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. The blood vessels in our eyes are as thin as a newborns hair. When these tiny vessels get clogged the blood and nutrients cannot get to the eye tissues. When less oxygen and nutrients get to the eye you are at a great risk for developing glaucoma and macular degeneration. Both can rob you of your eyesight. Glaucoma is a group of conditions that can result in optic nerve damage. Macular degeneration is where the blood vessels of the eye are affected. The vessel can leak blood as in “wet” macular degeneration or become clogged and with no blood flow as in “dry” macular degeneration. Both conditions cause a small part of the inside of the eye to “die” and thus cause some degree of blindness.
Healthy eye blood vessels are strong, flexible and elastic. Any condition that alters the eye blood vessels will alter your vision. Hypertension causes blood vessels to narrow (constrict) and blood flow to lessen due to the excessive pressure. Smoking also causes blood vessels to constrict. An elevated cholesterol level will damage the lining of the blood vessels as the fats cling to the blood vessel and clog it. Less blood flow thru these tiny vessels means less nutrients to the eyes. The body’s smallest vessels are affected first and hardest. You can now see why it is so important for the health of your eyes to stop smoking, control your cholesterol and lower your blood pressure.
Ultra Violet sunrays will not only damage the delicate skin of the eyelids but also the clear outer part of the eye, the cornea and conjunctiva. UV exposure contributes to the development of certain types of cataracts. Cataracts are that cloudy opaque film over the eye lens. Cataracts can be surgically removed but need to be “ripe” or a certain size for removal.
Here are the 5 top tips for good eye health for all ages.
1. Control hypertension and cholesterol by diet or with medication.
2. Stop smoking
3. Wear sunglasses that block 99% of UVB and 95% of UVA sunrays.
4. Eat antioxidants and take a vitamin supplement containing Lutein to help protect your eyes from damage and to nourish your eyes.
5. Exercise. Regular exercise may reduce eye pressure and will help increase blood circulation throughout the body including the eye.
You probably know someone with a sight limiting condition and you can see how it affects his or her lives. We can start now to protect our vision and keep it sharp as we age.
25/10/08 09:00
Peace Parish Nursing
October 2008 Susan Crosbie, RN-BSN
Preserve Your Eyesight Now
I recently went to the Northeast Eye Institute for my annual eye exam and spent a very informative hour with my new eye doctor. He asked me what I am doing to preserve my eyesight and avoid the problems that others in my family have. I said that I go for eye exams regularly and did not know of any specific things that could be done for my eyesight. I was very surprised to hear of some easy sight saving measures and to find that I am already doing some of them. Maybe you are too.
Our sight is a precious gift. Not all sight changes are age related, which means that just because we are all getting older we are doomed to come down with cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. The blood vessels in our eyes are as thin as a newborns hair. When these tiny vessels get clogged the blood and nutrients cannot get to the eye tissues. When less oxygen and nutrients get to the eye you are at a great risk for developing glaucoma and macular degeneration. Both can rob you of your eyesight. Glaucoma is a group of conditions that can result in optic nerve damage. Macular degeneration is where the blood vessels of the eye are affected. The vessel can leak blood as in “wet” macular degeneration or become clogged and with no blood flow as in “dry” macular degeneration. Both conditions cause a small part of the inside of the eye to “die” and thus cause some degree of blindness.
Healthy eye blood vessels are strong, flexible and elastic. Any condition that alters the eye blood vessels will alter your vision. Hypertension causes blood vessels to narrow (constrict) and blood flow to lessen due to the excessive pressure. Smoking also causes blood vessels to constrict. An elevated cholesterol level will damage the lining of the blood vessels as the fats cling to the blood vessel and clog it. Less blood flow thru these tiny vessels means less nutrients to the eyes. The body’s smallest vessels are affected first and hardest. You can now see why it is so important for the health of your eyes to stop smoking, control your cholesterol and lower your blood pressure.
Ultra Violet sunrays will not only damage the delicate skin of the eyelids but also the clear outer part of the eye, the cornea and conjunctiva. UV exposure contributes to the development of certain types of cataracts. Cataracts are that cloudy opaque film over the eye lens. Cataracts can be surgically removed but need to be “ripe” or a certain size for removal.
Here are the 5 top tips for good eye health for all ages.
1. Control hypertension and cholesterol by diet or with medication.
2. Stop smoking
3. Wear sunglasses that block 99% of UVB and 95% of UVA sunrays.
4. Eat antioxidants and take a vitamin supplement containing Lutein to help protect your eyes from damage and to nourish your eyes.
5. Exercise. Regular exercise may reduce eye pressure and will help increase blood circulation throughout the body including the eye.
You probably know someone with a sight limiting condition and you can see how it affects his or her lives. We can start now to protect our vision and keep it sharp as we age.