While aging is inevitable, physical decrepitude is not. Many of the outwards signs of growing old can be slowed – and life may even be prolonged – by maintaining a sensible approach to diet. The prevalance ofglaucoma, cataracts and dry eye begin to present themselves over the age of 40.
Rubbing your eyes: The delicate skin around your eyes if rubbed often can damage the tiny blood vessels beneath the surface of the skin. It can cause puffy eyes, dark circles and ultimately crow’s feet and sagging eyelids. No one can stop the natural aging process, but if you avoid rubbing and tugging on the sensitive skin around your eyes, you may be able to stave off the visible signs of aging around your eyes for a while longer.
Forgetting your sunglasses: Wearing sunglasses is an easy way to protect your eyes against the sun’sharmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Overexposure to UV radiation can sunburn the surface of your eyes. It can also lead to certain eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts,pterygium (a growth on the clear tissue of the eye that is often referred to as “Surfer’s Eye”) and other ocular conditions. To keep your eyes healthy, don’t forget to wear your sunglasses outside, even on cloudy days!
Smoking: There are many components in cigarette smoke that are toxic — nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar — they alter the nutrients that need to reach the eye; they upset the eye chemistry. Nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke are thought to be important causes of arteries losing their elasticity. This means that arteries respond less well to fluctuations in pressure and are more likely to rupture. An even bigger problem is the damage to blood vessels from smoking. The vessels behind the eye can be compromised, which cuts off the flow of oxygen to the eye. Smoking can increase your risk of suffering from cataracts and retinal diseases that lead to vision loss. It also worsens existing eye problems — age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and optic nerve damage.
Inadequate Diet: A lot of junk food can do more than adding inches to your waistline; it may also age your eyes. A diet rich in foods such as those containing beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, lutein and omega-3 fatty acids can help keep your eyes healthy. Make sure to eat plenty of carrots, citrus, berries, dark leafy greens, almonds, eggs and wild-caught salmon, to maintain good eye health. Two nutrients, namely, Lutein and Zeaxanthin, may help prevent advanced AMD because they have the ability to filter short-wavelength light. That type of light has been implicated in the condition, which slowly erodes sharp central vision. Food sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, include corn, egg yolks and green vegetables and fruits, such as broccoli, green beans, green peas, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, collard greens, spinach, lettuce, kiwi and honeydew.
Lack of quality sleep: Most people experience sallow skin and puffy eyes after a few nights of missed sleep. But chronic sleep loss can lead to lackluster skin, fine lines, and dark circles under the eyes. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. In excess amounts, cortisol can break down skin collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic.
Inadequate water intake: If you suffer from puffy eyelids, dry eye or eye redness, this may be signs that you are dehydrated. Combat dehydration and keep your eyes looking youthful by drinking a minimum of eight glasses of water a day (more if you are extremely active or have eaten a meal that’s high in sodium). Present Health Status: High cholesterol and blood pressure can contribute to eye health. If a person has high blood pressure, she is at a higher risk for having damage to the eye that can lead to vision loss. In the case of diabetic retinopathy, damage to the eye’s blood vessels can take place as a result of diabetes. The National Eye Institute recommends stopping the disease’s progression by controlling “their levels of blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol.”
Not seeing your eye doctor: It is common for adults to visit the eye doctor only when they detect a problem with their vision. But it may be worth it to visit more often, because certain eye diseases, such as glaucoma, are much more manageable if treated in the early stages of the disease – and can cause permanent vision loss if left completely untreated.
Spending hours in front of a computer/iPads- Hours in front of a computer screen may increase the risk of glaucoma in people who are myopic or shortsighted. Aching, irritable eyes is a common complaint after maintaining a visual distance constant for much of the day in front of the computer, this means the muscles that control your focal lens have become fatigued.
Eye Make-up: Heavy black eyeliner, frosted, heavily shadowed lids, no mascara or gobs of the clumpy stuff. These are the eye make-up mistakes that can drag down aging eyes and make you look exhausted and dated. Heavy eyeliner makes you look very tired. Keep your eyeliner line, thin. Also black liner at 40+ may be too harsh for you against your aging skin. Use a warm dark brown liner. It looks good on everyone. Avoid harsh make-up.
