It’s estimated that 11 million Americans over the age of 12 need vision correction. Sadly, many Americans don’t know how easy it is to miss signs of vision loss, and don’t get eye exams as often as they should.
At Wolchok Eye Associates in Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Stephen Wolchok and Dr. Eugene Wolchok can help you preserve your eye health and monitor your vision with regular eye exams and other eye care-related services.
In addition to getting your once yearly eye exam, you can help protect your eye health by adopting these habits:
Many eye diseases have a familial link, from poor vision to degeneration of vision connected to aging. If someone in your family has age-related macular degeneration (AMD), for example, your ophthalmologist should be made aware so they can screen for it as you get older.
Maintaining a healthy weight can help you avoid physical problems that can contribute to eye issues (like high blood pressure or diabetes.) Find ways to add foods high in important eye-supporting nutrients, including leafy greens, such as spinach or kale, into your daily meal plan. Also consider berries for antioxidants and nuts for healthy oils.
Your eyes can sustain damage from the sun, so skip the squinting and invest in a decent pair of shades rated to block out 99%-100% of UV-A and UV-B radiation. Make sure you wear them even when it’s not bright midday; the sun’s rays still get through cloud cover.
If you smoke, now would be a good time to quit. If you don’t make a pact with yourself never to start. Smoking can significantly raise your risk for a whole host of ocular diseases, so do yourself and your eyes a favor and walk away from nicotine.
Staring at a screen for upward of 1700 hours a year just for work can take a toll on anyone’s eyes. That’s the estimated amount of time an average American was spending looking at a computer even before the work from home revolution, and it doesn’t count recreational screen time. Make sure you follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, stop for 20 seconds and look at something 20 feet away. Blink a few times and refresh your eyes before going back to work. This simple habit can help prevent chronic dry eye.
Has it been more than a year since your last eye exam? Call our office at 904-739-0606 or schedule your next appointment online and get back on the path to better eye health.
