As we age, many health issues will begin to pop up. From aching joints to heart problems, a senior must live much healthier to minimize the health issues they are currently facing. One of the most common health issues that many seniors usually face in their twilight years is vision problems.
Being one of the senses, living with health issues with vision impairment can be a lot harder. With all that being said, what can you do to help your senior family members keep their vision as healthy as possible? Here are some tips on how.
Schedule Regular Eye Exams
Aging is unavoidable, and while terrible vision health usually accompanies old age, it is possible to be of senior age and still have healthy eyes. However, many seniors don’t realize that prescription glasses are not synonymous with aging. That said, if you want to keep tabs on your senior family member’s vision health, you need to keep a regular schedule of eye exams from time to time.
Doing it yearly is usually recommended to check your loved one’s vision health. You won’t be able to tell if something is amiss until they tell you they have a problem. We know how stubborn senior people can sometimes be. However, with a yearly visit to the Optometrist, you will have a higher chance of preventing the worsening of your vision, as regular checks can detect problems very early on.
Exercise
You might wonder, “How can running and jumping on the exercise bike help with their vision problem?” As far-fetched as that may sound, exercise is very beneficial for the eyes of your loved one. The main reason is that exercise promotes healthy blood flow to your body and, of course, to your eyes.
Improved blood flow in your body means that you’re enhancing the quality of your vision and eliminating the toxins which can worsen your vision problems. Of course, they may not be able to exercise like before, but any form of exercise, even light ones, can help with their blood flow and, in turn, their eyesight. It doesn’t always have to be intense. Just a simple walk or light jog will suffice. As long as their blood is pumping, then it’s enough.
Sleep Well
As we sleep, our eyes are enjoying constant lubrication. Not only that, but with sleep, your eyes are being rinsed, and the foreign substances, dust, allergens, and even smoke particles are being cleansed away.
Sleeping can also keep the light-sensitive cells in our eyes. Healthy cells, in turn, can improve the quality of our sleep, which is important for seniors since it’s common for them to have sleep problems like insomnia.
Eat Healthy Foods
Of course, it’s not a health article without the mention of eating healthy. It might sound cliché, but eating healthy foods is very beneficial for our body, especially for senior adults who need all the vitamins and nutrients they can get.
That said, if you’re in charge of prepping the food of your senior loved one, ensure they are getting a lot of vitamin C-rich foods. This vitamin is abundant in foods like kiwis, papayas, strawberries, red bell peppers, oranges, etc.
Also, since seniors have bodies that are having a hard time protecting themselves, you should add foods that have natural antioxidants as well, especially beta-carotene and lutein. You can get these substances from sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, spinach, broccoli, and kale. These foods can also reduce their risk of age-related macular degeneration or AMD.
Keep Their Eyes Away from Direct Sunlight
We all need vitamin D from the sun, and of course, that includes senior folk. However, since their bodies are now sensitive, you should keep their exposure to direct sunlight as minimal as possible.
Direct sunlight can damage their eyes and increase their risk of having several types of cancer. When you want to take your loved one up and about the park or somewhere without a roof, you should always protect their eyes by bringing sunglasses. These will reduce their risk of having their eyes damaged.
Of course, don’t forget to bring prescription glasses if they’re wearing them. But if you notice that the one they’re using needs an update, it’s beneficial to get a new pair immediately. Don’t worry, though, as they are covered by their senior Flex Card benefits. That way, you can lessen the cost of getting your elderly relative new glasses.
Final Words
As we age, our eyes can begin worsening. Moreover, they’ll be much more sensitive compared to when we’re younger. Living an old life while not being able to see is hard, and of course, we don’t want that for our loved ones. They only have a very limited time with us, so we should ensure they live their twilight years comfortably.