A new year quite often brings about new hopes for ourselves. People make resolutions at the start of a new year to signify changes they want to make in their lives. Most resolutions have obvious benefits. However, some have the hidden benefit of protecting your vision as well. Healthy vision is important in all areas of life, so if you plan on making a change in 2022, why not try one of these resolutions with double the perks!
Resolutions that Protect your Vision
While there are endless possibilities for new years’ resolutions, the following can also contribute to overall healthier vision.
- Quit Smoking – Of all the new year’s resolutions, this is one of the most common by far. There are so many health benefits to giving up cigarettes. But people often do not realize how smoking can affect your vision. People who smoke have an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and dry eye syndrome. Quitting is definitely not easy, but it can vastly improve your eye health.
- Eat healthier – Eating healthy usually means cutting back on the junk food and adding more fruits and vegetables into your diet. As it happens, fruits and vegetables contain a number of vitamins and minerals that are known to be beneficial to your vision. Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, vitamin C and beta carotene can be found in fish, nuts, citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, carrots and potatoes. These important nutrients can reduce the risk of eye problems like dry eye, macular degeneration and cataracts.
- Exercise more – Getting more exercise can certainly help you get back into those favorite pants. But research has shown that regular exercise can also promote healthy vision and protect against eye damage. There is a strong correlation between obesity and major eye diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, losing extra weight can help to decrease the risk of developing one of these dangerous issues. Additionally, cardio exercise increases the flow of blood to the optic nerve and retina, which can help sustain healthy vision.
- Get outside more often – Getting out in the fresh air can lift your spirits, reduce stress and even make you more focused. And on top of those great benefits, getting outside can help improve your vision! Indoor lighting can cause increased strain on your eyes, which can cause lasting damage over time. Additionally, being outside means less time in front of a digital screen, which can lower the risk of computer vision syndrome (also known as digital eye strain).
One Bonus Resolution
The above resolutions are all great choices to live a better, healthier lifestyle, and take care of your vision at the same time. But one additional promise you should make to yourself in this new year, and each year after that, is to get regular eye exams. Many eye diseases are manageable and even completely treatable if detected early enough. Your vision is so important to your overall quality of life, so you should do everything you can to protect it. Don’t wait – give us a call at 630-862-2020 to schedule your vision exam and get started on a very happy new year!