Lifestyle Changes That May Stop The Effects Of Macular Degeneration
Posted on: 3 September 2015
Certain things you do in life can make your symptoms of macular degeneration worse, which will cause you to lose your eyesight faster. Learning what these are and finding ways to avoid them can be beneficial for your eyesight. Your optometrist can help you understand what these are and may give you a list of things to change. Here are four important changes you might see on the list your eye doctor gives you:
- Stop smoking – Smoking disrupts and prevents oxygen delivery to your eyes, and this causes vision problems and leads to eye diseases. Smoking will worsen the effects of macular degeneration, which is why you should find a way to quit quickly if you currently smoke.
- Protect your eyes from sunlight – Certain parts of sunlight can be damaging to the eyes, and exposing yourself to sunlight might worsen your symptoms. The blue light in sunlight is one of the worst parts of sunlight for a person with macular degeneration, but the UV rays are also bad. Both of these parts can harm the macula in your eyes, which is the main part of the eye affected by macular degeneration. To protect your eyesight, you must keep your eyes out of the sun. You can do this by purchasing prescription or specialty sunglasses to wear every time you are outdoors or in a car.
- Lose weight – Extra weight is harmful to your body in so many ways, and it can disrupt the nerve transmissions that naturally take place between your eyes and your brain. When this communication is lost, it causes the health of the eyes to suffer, which will in turn lead to eye problems. If you are overweight, you should start exercising and dieting so you can lose the extra pounds you are carrying.
- Eat right – Your diet is also important for the health of your eyes. You may want to begin eating more green leafy vegetables, and eating fewer foods that are processed or that contain artificial fats. Eating the right foods may help your eyes function better, which could help you put a stop to the effects of this disease.
Eyesight is an important part of life, and living with macular degeneration puts you at risk for losing it. With the right changes in your lifestyle, you may be able to stop the disease in its tracks. This could help you hold on to your eyesight longer. To learn more about this condition, make an appointment with an optometrist today (such as Dr Gary Wetmore Optometry).
Share