The 10 commandments of eye health

As a nation, never has our health been more important to us. But in a world preoccupied with looking and feeling good, one crucial aspect of our health is frequently neglected – our eyesight.

Over 90% of the population fear losing their sight above any of the other senses, according to a new survey by Bausch & Lomb’s Ocuvite Lutein, the eye vitamin and mineral supplement for good eye health. And perhaps understandably so - vision impairment and loss has a direct impact on more than two million people in the UK today. Statistics also suggest that by the time we reach 60, one in 12 of us will be blind or partially sighted, rising to one in six when we hit 75.

Sobering statistics, but can anything be done to slow the march of time? A recent survey uncovered an alarming lack of knowledge about good eye health, with over 50% of respondents claiming that they were not aware of anything they could do to protect their eyesight.

However, experts do agree that there are a number of steps individuals could take to improve eye health, and lessen the chances of experiencing vision loss later in life:

The 10 Commandments of Eye Health

1. Get Tested
An eye test is a vital health check, and can detect eye conditions before you notice the effect they are having on your vision. A full test should take no longer than 30 minutes, but could save your sight.

16-59 year olds should visit an optometrist for a full eye test every two years, and others should be tested annually, unless otherwise advised by an eye health professional.

2. Stop Smoking
The UK’s 13 million smokers are doubling their chances of going blind as a result of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the UK’s leading cause of blindness, according to research.

Of the 500,000 people in the UK who have been diagnosed with the condition, an estimated 54,000 have AMD as a result of smoking. The message is simple – stop smoking, or better still, don’t start!

3. Watch Your Waistline
Research indicates that there is a direct link between obesity and some of the most common eye conditions that cause blindness, which means that 10 million adults and two million children in the UK are at risk as a result of their weight.

Obesity has been found to increase the risk of developing AMD, as well as speed up its progression. An individual with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 35 is also up to 80 times more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes than someone with a BMI of less than 22, and the risk of developing cataracts can be a high as double in those who are overweight.

4. Vegetables for Vision
Eating well can make a tangible difference to your eyes as well as your general health and wellbeing. A balanced diet which is low in saturated fat, but high in vegetables (particularly the green, leafy variety such as spinach and kale), fruit, nuts and oily fish can help prevent a range of eye conditions, including AMD and cataracts.

5. Supplement Your Sight
There are vitamin and mineral supplements which could be effective in preserving eye health in those susceptible to age-related changes such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Bausch & Lomb’s PreserVision was the only high potency formulation tested in a major 10-year eye health study.

Alternatively, for a preventative eye health supplement suitable for those with healthy eyes, products containing lower levels of antioxidants, including lutein, are recommended. Those with healthy eyesight can benefit by taking Bausch & Lomb’s Ocuvite Lutein to protect the macula and maintain good eye health. The supplement contains lutein, an antioxidant carotenoid pigment found naturally in green leafy vegetables, as well as the retina of the eye.

6. Be Sun Savvy
Prolonged exposure to intense sunlight can damage delicate eye tissue, making an individual more prone to developing several serious eye conditions, including AMD and cataracts. Protect your eyes by wearing good quality sunglasses which protect the eyes from all angles, or wear a wide brimmed hat when you are out in the sun.

7. Family Matters
Individuals with a family history of some eye conditions appear to be at higher risk of developing these diseases than those who do not. Although nothing can be done about the genes you inherit, if you have family history make sure that you take steps to control other factors linked to eye disorders by getting your eyes checked regularly and living a healthy lifestyle.

8. Health Check
Some medical disorders cause an individual to be more susceptible to eye health conditions. For example, Diabetes can affect the eye by causing changes to the network of blood vessels within the retina – a condition known as diabetic retinopathy, which can cause sight loss. However, recent research by the RNIB indicates that up to 1.9 million diabetes sufferers are not having their eyes tested regularly.

If you do have a medical condition or are taking prescribed medication, you should discuss this with your optometrist.

9. Don’t Take It For Granted
Deterioration of your eyesight need not be a part of the aging process. Yes – some eye disorders are more prevalent amongst the older generation, but there are many steps that you can take to protect your sight before vision loss becomes a problem. Don’t take it for granted and start looking after your eye health today.

10. Have Your Say…
There are a number of organisations which support and campaign for the rights of those affected by vision loss in the UK. The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) supports blind and partially sighted people in the UK. To find out more, visit Rnib.org.uk.

For further information about Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), visit the Macular Disease Society’s website: Maculardisease.org.

For further information about Bausch & Lomb’s PreserVision, visit the website – Preservision.co.uk.