Managing Overall Health is Central to Maintaining Vision

Vision has taken a hit in the past six or seven months. Experts suggest that people have been avoiding eye appointments during the pandemic, and it could be having dire consequences.

Once you’ve hit 65, your eyes need more attention. Like the rest of you, they are subject to aging. One of the ways it hits is eye pressure.

Several chronic health conditions can contribute to rising eye pressure. High blood pressure and diabetes can both influence eye pressure and vision. So can eye-specific conditions like age-related macular degeneration, or AMD.

Vision loss can be hard to track. It occurs gradually and without pain, making it virtually unnoticeable until the damage has been done. When you put off appointments, the risk for eye damage and vision loss goes up.

At the same time, eye pressure can increase quickly if unmanaged.

Aside from eating vitamin and antioxidant-rich foods like leafy greens and colorful fruit and vegetables, there are a few other things you can do to promote healthy vision and eye health.

If you have high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or glaucoma, you are at increased risk of eye stroke. Like the heart and brain, obstructed blood vessels can damage your eyes and lead to temporary or long-term vision loss.

Working to control blood pressure may help reduce the risk of an eye stroke.

Diabetes can also lead to vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy causes retinal blood vessels to “leak” and impair vision. It may cause increased eye pressure and potentially lead to glaucoma if untreated.

You may be able to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy by controlling blood sugar, taking your medication, and attending scheduled eye exams.

It is understandable to be uncomfortable about going out during the pandemic. But your eyes could be paying the price. Along with lifestyle measures to encourage better vision, talk to your eye doctor about the safety measures in place at their office, and keep up with scheduled appointments.