As people age, their eyesight begins to change. Clearly, the results of aging involve more than gray hair, creaky knees, and wrinkles. Consider the wide range of age-related eye conditions that can develop as you age. These include age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and more. These conditions are more common in those over the age of 50 years. However, their development is not inevitable. 

Everyone ages differently. Yet, studies show that protecting and maintaining your health as you age can help decrease or prevent the effects of age-related eye problems. It is important to undergo regular comprehensive eye exams, especially when you turn 40. The results of the eye exams will serve as a measurement to track any changes as you grow older. 

How to Protect Your Aging Eyes

You cannot control a family history of macular degeneration or glaucoma. However, it is important to maintain your vision as you age by making a few lifestyle changes. Some of the positive steps you should take include:

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight or obese can affect more than your blood sugar, blood pressure, and heart. Most people do not know that it can affect one’s vision too. According to many studies, overweight and obese individuals are significantly more likely to develop cataracts than those with a healthy weight. Hence, try to maintain a healthy weight. After all, getting rid of excess pounds once you are overweight does not seem to prevent cataracts.

Also, overweight and obese people are at an increased risk of developing glaucoma. This is likely due to the buildup of fluid inside their eyes. It might also result from the effects of diabetes, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and high cholesterol. Obesity also increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration, likely by increasing oxidative stress and inflammation in the eyes. 

Stop Smoking

Former and current smokers are up to four times more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration than people who never smoked. This condition is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States.

Your risk of developing ARMD remains high even up to two decades after quitting smoking. Some of the reasons for the increased risk among smokers include vascular constriction, oxidative stress, and cellular changes. 

Use Protective Eyewear

Individuals with blue eyes and fair skin have a higher risk of developing cataracts. According to one study conducted at Johns Hopkins, there is a strong link between an increased risk of cataracts and sun exposure.

Exposure to UV light can also increase your risk of age-related macular degeneration. Hence, you should ensure that your sunglasses protect your eyes from both UV-A and UV-B wavelengths. 

Exercise Regularly

According to one long-term study involving more than 15,000 participants, people who drank occasionally and were physically active experienced less vision loss than those who did not exercise or drink at all. Thus, you should exercise regularly and drink moderately if you must at all.

For more on maintaining vision as you age, call (757) 638-2015 to reach Enochs Eye Care, Clarity Vision of Suffolk at our office in Suffolk, Virginia.