Page 58 - March 2023 Issue

• It becomes harder to tell those problems can be detected, You should budget for the cost of a
the diff erence between and what steps you can take regular eye exam at least every other
some colors, particularly to save your sight. When you year or more frequently if your doctor
shades of blue and green go in for an eye examination, recommends it. Most people want to
talk to your doctor about protect their vision, even it if involves a
• It becomes more diffi cult to
your eyes and your vision. cost. Proper eye care doesn’t have to be
focus on things that are near

expensive. Think of it as an investment
• Adjusting to glare and darkness Taking care of yourself and keeping
in good vision.
can become more troublesome. in good health can help protect your
vision. You can lower your risk of eye There may be many ways to fi nance your

Nearly everyone experiences these and
disease and vision loss if you: eye care: health insurance, private plans,
other changes in their vision as they grow Medicare and Medicaid may all cover
• Eat healthy foods
older. The good news is you can continue

a portion of the cost. Check with your
to lead an active and independent life • Stay active insurance carrier.
even with these changes.
• Control your blood pressure,
For many individuals, digital eye strain
cholesterol levels, diabetes,
One very important thing you can do is a concern with hours spent on laptops,
or other health problem
is getting your eyes checked regularly tablets, e-readers and phones. We know
by an eye doctor—at least once every • Quit smoking that digital devices emit blue light, high
other year—especially if you are 55 or
• Make the most of the energy visible light in the 460 to 500
older. Some people, especially those
vision you have nm range. Research has shown that blue
with diabetes, may need to go more light can cause damage to ocular tissues,
oft en. People with certain vision problems, like but the cumulative risks to the eye are
glaucoma, find that their eye doctors not yet fully understood. Which means,
You should visit your eye doctor prescribe medication to stop the disease be mindful of the amount of time spent
even if you have no problems seeing. from causing further vision loss. To be looking at the screen.
There are several eye diseases that effective, medicines must be taken at
have no symptoms during their certain times in exact amounts.
early stages and only your eye
doctor can tell if you have them. Clos ely follow your do c tor’s
recommendations and schedule for
Your eye doctor can treat common taking your medication. Skipping a dose
eye problems you may have, keep your or taking your medicine late may cause
eyeglass prescription up-to-date, and more vision loss.
check for eye diseases. If you do have
any problems with your eyes, your eye Making healthy food choices is not
doctor will discuss the best way to treat only beneficial for overall health, but
them with you. is a key factor in maintaining eye and

vision health. The antioxidants found
Small changes in the way you live will in fruits, leafy green vegetables and ĂŝůLJ ĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ
help you to see better as you age. Th ese antioxidant supplements can help delay RN on Call
simple changes include: the development of cataract, glaucoma ,ŽŵĞ ŽŽŬĞĚ DĞĂůƐ͕
and age-related macular degeneration.
• Wearing sunglasses and a ^ŶĂĐŬƐ Θ ĞǀĞƌĂŐĞƐ
Understand the importance of water
brimmed hat if you are sensitive >ĂƵŶĚƌLJ Θ ,ŽƵƐĞŬĞĞƉŝŶŐ
in a healthy diet, too. A solution to dry
to bright light and anytime you >ŝĐĞŶƐĞĚ ƚŽ WƌŽǀŝĚĞ
eye maybe as simple as drinking more
are outdoors in bright sunshine. ĂƌĞ ĨŽƌ >ĞǀĞůƐ ϭ͕Ϯ͕ϯ
water. Research has shown that the best
• Improving lighting DĞŵŽƌLJ ĂƌĞ
eye health results from a healthy diet
around your house. ^ƉĞĐŝĂů ŝĞƚ Θ ŝŶŝŶŐ ƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ
maintained over a period of years. Again,
• Wearing safety eyewear nutrition is an area where everyone can WŽƐƚͲƌĞŚĂďŝůŝƚĂƟŽŶ WĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉƐ
when working around your take a proactive approach before vision ǁŝƚŚ ŽĐƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ dŚĞƌĂƉŝƐƚƐ
house or playing sports. problems appear. ĂŶĚ ŵƵĐŚ ŵŽƌĞ͘͘͘
• Another way to grow older with www.arcadia-living.com
Safe driving requires complex visual
good vision is to learn about
processing – abilities that may begin to
vision changes that occur as you decline as we age. A loss in your visual
age. By being well informed, you abilities could endanger you and others
can learn what problems may
on the road. But you can maintain your Come Home to Arcadia
develop with your vision, how
independence and drive safely longer.
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