Advantage Health News ​

​Healthy Eyesight a Critical Component of Lifestyle
As many as one sixth of adult’s struggle with an eye condition that threatens their sight, and far more will experience a certain amount of vision loss as they get older. Some of the leading causes of low vision and blindness are age-related, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Fortunately, there are a few tips we can follow to minimize our risks and keep our eyes as healthy as possible.
Lifestyle Habits and Vision
Staying active and eating healthy are not just a good way to stay trim and fit, they help our eyes stay healthy! Try to make fruits and dark leafy greens a significant part of your diet and get regular exercise. Just as important is avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking. Smoking is a huge risk factor for many sight-threatening conditions.
Schedule Regular Physical Exams
Chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, if untreated, can lead to serious eye health problems. Diabetes is linked with diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, and someone with untreated high blood pressure is more prone to eye strokes. All of these can result in permanent vision loss, which is why regular checkups at the doctor’s office are so important for eye health. The earlier a chronic condition is discovered, the earlier you can start fighting back!
Vision Changes and Healthy Eyesight
Changes in eyesight tend to be very gradual, which can make them hard to notice at first. If you do notice a change, schedule an eye appointment. Whether it is the early stages of a serious eye condition or you simply need a prescription updated, it is important to get the eye doctor’s expertise. If you experience symptoms like flashes of light, eye pain or swelling, red eyes, or a sudden increase in how many floaters you see, however, get straight to the eye doctor.
Learn Your Risk Factors for Eye Diseases
If your family has a history of eye diseases, diabetes, or high blood pressure, it could mean you are at higher risk of developing them too. Age is also a huge risk factor. We cannot control whether we fit into these high-risk categories or not, but we can take good precautions like sticking to a regular eye exam schedule and maintaining those healthy lifestyle habits.
Sunglasses and UV Protection
Keep your eyes safe from harmful UV rays by investing in quality eyewear.  Make sure the sunglasses are specifically designed to block 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays. The UV-A protection will be on the label. Without UV protection in sunglasses your vision will get worse will block UV rays and improve your vision defenses.
Schedule Yearly Eye Exams
Eye exams play an important role for healthy eyesight. Some sight-threatening diseases cannot be reversed, but if caught early, we can slow the progression. Regular eye exams can be the difference between permanent vision loss and successfully saving a patient’s sight. Your personal risk factors will determine how frequent those eye exams should be, a yearly eye exam is a good start to better vision.
Ask the Optometrist.
If you want more tips on how to keep your eyes healthy and your vision strong, or if you just need a recommendation on which sunglasses would be best, stop by or call your vision 

Studies suggest taking a vacation reduces stress and lowers the blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and increases mental wellness.  The longer your vacation, the greater benefits for your health.  
1. Vacation time to reduce the most stress is between 5 and 8 days. 
2. Take a vacation that improves your mood, warmer temperatures, and outdoor activities. 
3. Schedule a vacation get away in your calendar 3-4 times per year.  
4. Vacations help you live in the present.  Have you ever felt like you appreciate your home, and the people who are in your life more after a vacation? Vacations give life a different perspective.
5. Vacation with friends.  Spending time with friends will enhance your relationships and build your networks.  You will always remember the time you spent with friends on vacation, because it is special and it doesn't happen as often.  Some of your best idea's happen on vacation and around friends.