Vision Health for Millennials

"Although eye problems can feel like a long way off, take simple steps today to protect your vision for the future. 

Vision problems develop most often in older people, so if you’re a millennial aged 25 to 35, eye trouble can seem like a long way off. But it may be closer than you think. In 2015, more than 12 million Americans over 40 had vision and eye problems, a number projected to double by 2050. Many millennials will find themselves included in that statistic. ¹ 

Whether you’re looking forward to the view from the corner office or setting your sights on the Eiffel Tower, take simple steps now to protect your vision for the future.

• Give your eyes a rest. Phones, television, computers – screens are all around us, all day long. Practice the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet in front of you.
• Protect your eyes – at work and at play. Wear protective eyewear that blocks 99-100% of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation when playing sports or doing activities outside such as yard work. Also protect your eyes from injury when doing work around the home, such as home repairs. To make sure you have the right kind of protective eyewear and you’re using it correctly, talk with your eye doctor.
• Eat right to protect your sight. Eat plenty of dark, leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens and fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, albacore tuna, trout, and halibut.
• Quit smoking or never start.
• Use contact lenses safely. Wash your hands before handling your contacts and keep them clean to avoid infection.
• Get plenty of physical activity to boost your mood, reduce stress, and help you stay at a healthy weight. This can prevent the development of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, which can lead to diabetic eye diseases and vision loss.
• Know your family’s eye health history. It’s important to know if your parents, grandparents, or others in your family have been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition, since some are hereditary.
• Get eye exams as recommended by your eye doctor..."
  Millennials and vision