Did you know that in Canada, the leading cause of blindness is cataracts? The thing is, there’s no surefire way to prevent them, but some lifestyle changes can help lower your chances of getting them. In this post, we will share some tips to help you prevent cataracts:
1. Watch What You Eat
Indeed, there’s nothing you can do about your genetics, and your age and family history are factors in your level of risk when it comes to cataracts. Eating foods high in antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E may help prevent cataracts. In the case that you already have cataracts, the right foods can slow down their growth.
Foods that are high in vitamins and antioxidants are citrus, tomatoes, red and green peppers, kiwifruit, and strawberries. Foods, such as vegetable oils and nuts, are rich in vitamin E.
With that, make sure you eat fruits and vegetables every day. Five servings of vegetables every day can provide you with more than 100 milligrams of vitamin C and 5 to 6 milligrams of lutein and zeaxanthin.
2. Quit Smoking
Smoking is bad for your lungs and heart, and it’s bad for your eyes as well. In fact, it’s a huge risk factor that is within your control. When you smoke, it creates more free radicals in your eyes, and these are chemicals that harm cells. Smoking kills off the good chemicals and produces a lot of toxins that can cause cataracts.
Quitting smoking can help you prevent cataracts, even if you’ve smoked a lot of cigarettes over time.
3. Wear Sunglasses
Sunglasses help protect your eyes and prevent the risk of getting cataracts. The sun’s harmful UV rays can cause changes in your eyes and can even damage the proteins in your lens.
When shopping for sunglasses, you might want to look for something that can block out 99% to 100% UVA and UVB rays and can screen out 75% to 90% visible light.
Aside from these things, look for sunglasses that fit your face shape and have a grey tint, which is helpful if you drive.
4. Maintain Good Blood Sugar Levels
If you have diabetes, it’s essential you keep your blood sugar under control. Your blood sugar levels can also help prevent cataracts. This is because people who have diabetes are more likely to develop eye conditions than people who don’t. When your blood sugar is too high for too long, your lens will swell.
5. Go to Regular Eye Exams
If you’re between 40 and 64 years old, you need to get a complete eye exam every 2-4 years. If you’re over age 65, you should have an eye exam every 1-2 years. By going regularly, you can ensure that your doctor will be able to spot any issues right away before they get worse.
Conclusion
Can you imagine not being able to see clearly? That’s why you need to take care of your eyes, not only to prevent eye issues but to prevent cataracts, which is the leading cause of blindness in Canada today. Following these tips can help you prevent it and maintain excellent eye condition.
Are you looking for the best laser eye clinic in Langley BC? Valley Laser Eye Centre, a laser eye clinic headquartered in Abbotsford, can provide you with the best services to prevent or help with your cataracts. Schedule a consultation today!
This blog post does not replace medical advice and should not be implemented prior to consulting a fully certified medical professional.
