5 New Year’s Resolutions for Better Vision 

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Posted by: Missouri Eye Institute in Blog on January 9, 2023

New year, new resolutions, right? While you’re setting new goals for a better you, make a few promises to yourself that will help you protect your vision for years to come. Here are our top five.

1. Quit smoking.

Nearly 20 million Americans are estimated to have age-related macular degeneration, and approximately 25 million over the age of 40 have cataracts. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people who smoke are 2-3 times more likely as non-smokers to develop cataracts and twice as likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 

These two conditions are the leading causes of blindness in people over 60 in the United States.

2. Get chronic health conditions under control.

Poor overall health can have a significant impact on your vision or make you more susceptible to eye diseases that can rob you of sight. Work with your primary care doctor or specialist to get these sight-damaging diseases under control before they cause vision loss or blindness:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Thyroid disease and other autoimmune conditions
• Liver disease
• Malnutrition

Acute conditions such as rosacea, Lyme disease, shingles and measles can affect the eyes if left untreated. Eyes can get infected, swollen, dry and damaged from illnesses that have run amok. Ask your doctor about vaccinations, where possible, and get medication promptly when you do get sick.

3. Clean up your diet and move more.

Good overall health can translate into healthier eyes that work better. So, it makes sense that a healthy diet and exercise regimen can prevent or improve health conditions, such as obesity-related diseases, that can negatively affect your eyesight.

If a lifestyle overhaul feels daunting, make small changes – they will add up over time.

• Fill 75 percent of your plate with vegetables. The more colorful, the better.
• Eat more seafood and lean meats like chicken and turkey breast.
• Get your blood circulating with 30 or minutes of exercise daily.
• Drink more water and less alcohol.

4. Let your eyes rest.

Go easy on your eyes! If, like many of us, you spend long hours in front of a computer, tablet, television or smartphone, give your tired eyes a break once in a while.

• Take breaks from your devices. Follow the 20/20/20 Rule: Take a 20-second break every 20 minutes to glance around 20 feet or so into the distance. Remind yourself to blink more often by syncing it with something that occurs often – a clock ticking, a neighborhood dog barking, honking, notifications or some other frequent sound.
• Keep light at a comfortable level. Lower the brightness on your electronic devices so your eyes don’t tire or strain so easily.
• Get adequate sleep. There’s a reason it’s called “shuteye.” A lack of sleep leads to dry eyes, and dry eyes cause blurry vision.
• Wear eyewear that makes reading more comfortable. If you rely on prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, you’ll need to get your eyes examined at least once per year to make sure your prescription is keeping up with changes in your vision. Inappropriate prescription strengths will make reading and working uncomfortable, leading to blurry vision, headaches and more.

5. Consider LASIK.

Resolutions 1-4 should be on your to-do list, no matter where you stand on permanent vision correction. Not only will those changes preserve your vision a little longer, but they’ll also help you live longer with a better quality of life. However, for an immediate, more dramatic improvement in vision and quality of life, there’s LASIK laser eye surgery.

Take the Missouri Eye 60-second Self-Test to see if you might be a candidate for LASIK.

Missouri Eye Institute has helped thousands of patients attain freedom from glasses and contact lenses. Contact us at (800) 383-3831 to schedule a LASIK consultation or visit MissouriEye.com to learn more about our services.