June is Men’s Health Month. It was established to help bring awareness to health issues men face and to encourage them to take charge of their health. A number of retinal diseases can affect men, including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.
Here are 11 steps men can take to help protect their eye health and vision:
- Get an annual dilated eye exam.
- Contact your optometrist or ophthalmologist any time you experience a change in vision.
- Stop smoking.
- Protect your eyes from injury by wearing safety goggles when playing sports or working with power tools.
- Wear proper sunglasses that block ultraviolet radiation.
- Eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, broccoli and dark leafy greens.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Stay active with regular, moderate exercise — aim for 30 minutes a day.
- Regulate your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
- Know your family’s medical history and share it with your eye doctor to help detect any signs of potential disease early when treatment can be most effective.
- Protect your eyes while working on a computer — every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away, for 20 seconds.
You can learn more about all of the retinal diseases Texas Retina Associates treats here.