6 NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS FOR LUX VISION IN 2017
It's 2017, and a lot of us are planning to make lifestyle changes for the better. Whatever your goals are, lets make 2017 the best year yet. Be sure to include some resolutions below for better vision and healthier eyes this year.
1.) ANNUAL EYE EXAMS: Make annual eye exams a priority for you and your family. Annual exams not only ensure you have the most updated prescription, they also allow optometrists to detect a multitude of medical conditions including, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, headaches, cancer, thyroid dysfunction, glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, dry eyes, and computer vision syndrome to name just a few. Our eyes are our most precious sense. Is it really worth losing sight to save a few dollars? The average annual eye exam without insurance costs $108.00...This is $9.00/month or $0.30 cents/day to keep your eyes healthy. SERIOUSLY? You can't even get a Starbucks for that price!!! So start the year off right by scheduling your eye exam today!!
2.) UPDATE YOUR STYLE: The glasses we wear become a part of our identity. We need to make sure our glasses represent our style whether it be avant-garde, hipster, fashionista, or to-cool-for school. Larger frames are definitely in right now, so if you're still wearing those itsy-bitsy teeny weeny frames from the early 2000's, lets freshen up your look. It will make you feel better and more prepared to conquer the new year ahead.
If you are wearing glasses over glasses, this is also not acceptable. There are easier, more stylish options that don't scream, "HELP ME, I CAN'T SEE!" With today's technology choices range from digital customized lenses to contact lenses and even refractive surgery. Did you know they even make contact lenses that allow you to see both distance and near??? SO COOL!!!
3.) EAT HEALTHY: I get asked all the time, "What can I do to help prevent against eye disease?" I always respond with "healthy eating." Healthy natural dietary changes can have a large impact on your eyes and body as a whole. More than just carrots are necessary for great vision. Dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli, kale, spinach and collard greens provide antioxidants which are important to overall ocular and systemic health. Omega-3 fatty acids which can be found in various fish and chia seeds have also been shown to reduce dry eye syndrome and they aide in overall brain development and cognitive ability. Your eyes are an extension of your brain, so do your whole body a favor. My favorite Omega-3 vitamins are Nutraceuticals Omega 3 and here are the chia seeds I use every morning on my yogurt. Optometrist tested and approved!!!
4.) WEAR SUNGLASSES: If you are not wearing sunglasses you are harming your eyes and setting yourself up for possible early cataracts, fine lines and eye wrinkles, yellowing of the whites of your eyes, and macular degeneration. Sunglasses protect your peepers from harmful UVA and UVB rays. While sunglass wear is important for all ages it is especially important for children and young adults. Did you know that 80% of your eyes sun damage is going to occur between the ages of 0-20 years old? There are many options to help you achieve UV protection. You can wear contact lenses with sunglasses over top, prescription polarized sunglasses, Transition lenses that change to sunglasses when outside or clip-on sunglasses. Don't let sun damage make your eyes look like the Grinch!!!
5.) STOP SMOKING or never start: Studies have shown the numerous negative impacts smoking has on overall health including increased cardiovascular disease and cancer. Smoking also isn't good for your eyes and can cause several sight threatening conditions like cataracts, macular degeneration and optic nerve dysfunction. So if you want to save your vision and see your future put down the cigarettes. Make 2017 the year to break this bad, stinky habit once and for all.
6.) GET CUSTOMIZED COMPUTER GLASSES:
I too often have patient's experiencing headaches and eyestrain daily because they are not using the proper type of glasses for the activities they are doing. I especially see this with computer use. If you are on the computer more than a couple hours a day do you eyes and neck a favor by investing in customized glasses for your computer use. Computer glasses will block harmful blue light that is emitted from electronic devices which causes ocular stress, strain, and headaches and your upper body will be positioned ergonomically correct to reduce neck and body pain. Prescription glasses can also be customized for any other needs you have from golf, hunting, and cycling to skiing and auto body repair.
