Looking after your general health and well-being becomes more important as you age, as the natural ageing process can increase your risk of certain health conditions. This is especially true when it comes to your eyes, as not only does your eyesight naturally deteriorate as you age, but your risk of certain eye problems increases.
At Trinity Homecare, we understand that the impact of vision loss or eyesight problems goes beyond limiting your physical abilities and has an emotional impact, too. In this guide, our expert carers will share some of the things you can do to promote healthy vision and reduce your risk of future eye complications.
How to look after your eyes
Looking after your eyes to maintain healthy vision becomes more important as you start to get older. That’s because the natural ageing process can affect your eyesight and increase your risk of a range of eye problems like presbyopia (the loss of ability to focus on nearby objects), glaucoma, dry eyes, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
These conditions can affect your eyesight health in numerous ways, from affecting your vision to causing eye discomfort. This can not only make day-to-day tasks more challenging, but we know that failing eyesight and the limitations it causes can also be hard for you to come to terms with.
The good news is there are steps you can take to try and maintain healthy eyesight and reduce your risk of age-related eye problems.
Below, share the different ways you can look after your eye health:
Regular eye tests
One of the most important ways to look after your eyesight health is by having regular eye tests. You should have an eye test at least once every two years, even if you have good vision. However, if you have any existing eye health concerns, it may be recommended that you have more regular eyesight check ups.
Regular eye tests by an optician or ophthalmologist are important as they can help pick up on the early stages of any eye conditions, often even before you notice any changes to your vision. This enables you to start treatment as soon as possible, which can help reduce the damage caused to your eyes.
At Trinity Homecare, we have partnered with Outside Clinic – specialists in delivering eye and hearing tests at home for those who can’t easily visit an optician or audiologist – to enable us to ensure that those we care for don’t miss out on their essential eye health check ups.
Understanding your family history
Some eye conditions can be hereditary, so knowing if you have a family history of certain eye conditions can alert you to your risk and enable you to take proactive steps to maintain healthy vision for as long as possible. This could include going for more regular eye tests or making changes to your diet and lifestyle to support your eye health.
Diet
There is a strong link between diet and eyesight health, so ensuring you get the essential nutrients you need to support your eyesight is vital. The best way to do this is by eating a healthy, well-balanced and varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables and healthy fats. Read our dedicated guide on the best diet for eye health to find out more about the foods that can help support healthy vision.
Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight can be important to your eye health, as being overweight can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This can put you at higher risk of glaucoma, a condition that damages your optic nerve and slowly reduces your vision, and diabetic retinopathy, a condition that causes damage to the retina (back of the eye) that can lead to blindness.
Regular exercise
Regular exercise can play a key role in helping you to maintain a healthy weight, which can be vital for your eye health. Exercise also promotes blood circulation, which helps increase oxygen levels in the eyes and removes toxins. A gentle daily stroll, a chair workout, light housework and gardening are all exercises you can try to include in your routine to help promote healthy eyesight.
Stop smoking
Smoking is linked to multiple eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and dry eye syndrome. By stopping smoking, you can help to reduce your risk of developing these conditions.
Wear UV protection
The sun produces powerful UV rays that can be harmful to your eyes and cause damage that can affect your vision as you age. To prevent this damage, it’s important you wear sunglasses when going outside, especially on sunny days.
Home care for vision loss
If you are concerned your deteriorating vision is affecting your ability to carry out everyday tasks and how safe you feel in the home you love, home care could be the ideal option for you. With home care, you can get fully bespoke support tailored to your requirements from trained carers who have experience in assisting with the challenges faced by deteriorating eyesight.
At Trinity Homecare, this could involve having a carer move into your home to provide round-the-clock live-in care. Or you may prefer visiting care, where a carer just drops in a few times a day or week to help with the tasks you’re finding harder because of your eyesight health. Whatever your needs, contact us to find out more about how we can support you to live well in the home you love.
Trusted home care from Trinity
If you’re looking for dedicated home care for you or your loved one, trust Trinity Homecare. For the past 25 years, we have provided the highest standards of care in the comfort of people’s own homes. We understand that deteriorating eyesight can be worrying and make everyday tasks more difficult. However, we passionately believe that with the right support in place, you can live a full life in the home you love.
Trinity Homecare is a fully managed care agency with an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, placing Trinity amongst the top 4% of all nationwide care companies in England. With this in mind, you can rest assured that your loved one will receive the highest standard of care and specialist support.
If you have any questions about arranging care, simply get in touch with our helpful and knowledgeable care team.
Arranging nationwide home care with Trinity is straightforward.
Simply follow these five steps:
- Call our care team
- Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment
- After the assessment, a plan of care is created
- A well-suited carer is found and placed
- Care can be adapted at any time
