You At Your Best

By Sarah haNey NWa Democrat-Gazette The eyes are the complex organs of the visual system, providing vision and the ability to process many visual details. They are composed of more than two million working parts and are capable of processing an astonishing 36,000 pieces of information per hour by delivering data to your brain to be evaluated instantly. Your eyes will process 24 million images in your lifetime and are responsible for setting up how we react to the environment around us. Because of this, the eyes are an extremely vital sense that we so often take for granted. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 14 million Americans aged 12 years and older have self-reported visual impairment defined as distance acuity of 20/50 or worse. Of those 14 million Americans, 8.2 percent do not have health insurance. There are different measures you can take to help keep your eyes healthy and help prevent vision loss or disease. Diet A large amount of vision problems arise as a secondary disease to an already pre-existing condition. The leading cause of blindness in adults is type 2 diabetes, which can be associated with obesity. By eating a healthy diet of green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and collards, as well as salmon, tuna, oranges, and non-meat protein sources such as eggs, nuts, and beans, you can drastically reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and help yourself maintain a healthy weight. These are both vital to good eye health. Age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts can potentially be warded off by omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E nutrients. Stop smoking While the negative health effects of smoking tobacco are widely known, the damage that it does to your eyes is not as commonly known. Smoking increases your risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye syndrome, and causes damage to your optic nerve. Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of developing many sight-threatening eye conditions. Wear sunglasses Ultraviolet rays from the sun may lead to macular degeneration and the development of cataracts. Cataracts are a clouding of the eye's natural lens. The eye's lens is the part of the eye that focuses the light we see. The right pair of sunglasses — ones that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays — can help protect your eyes. Safety eyewear Many sports can lead to eye injury. It is important to always wear eye protection, such as helmets with protective masks or sports goggles. You should always wear protective goggles or safety glasses when using or working with hazardous or airborne materials. Look away from electronics Eye strain, blurry vision, trouble focusing, and dry eyes can all result from staring at a computer or phone screen for too long. You should make sure your glasses or contacts prescription is always up to date and good for looking at a computer screen. Otherwise, your doctor may be able to prescribe you computer glasses. Your eyes should be level with the top of the computer monitor so you are looking down at the screen, causing less eye strain. If your eyes are dry, try blinking more and rest your eyes every 20 minutes by looking 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. The Sense of Vision you should always wear protective goggles or safety glasses when using or working with hazardous or airborne materials. SATURdAY, JUnE 30, 2018, 2018 | ThE 5 SEnSES - JUlY nwAdg.cOm/YOUATYOURBEST | YOU AT YOUR BEST | 13

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