Taking Care of Your Eyes

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul.  They are also the windows to your health. The eyes can help determine a series of health related issues: 

1. HIV & AIDS - your optometrist can look behind your eyes to determine if there are signs of retinal inflammation that is common in HIV and AIDS patients.

2. Thyroid issues - protruding eyes or loss of hair at the edges of the eyebrow can be a sign of thyroid problems

3. Cardiovascular problems - blurry vision is one sign that you have cardiovascular problems. Your optometrist can also determine if there are issues with high blood pressure. Often, optometrists can warn patients when they are at high risk for stroke.

4. High cholesterol - a grayish-white ring around the perimeter of the iris is often thought to be a sign of aging. In many cases, however, it can be a sign that you have high cholesterol. Unfortunately, the rings do not go away after getting the cholesterol under control.

5. Diabetes - blurry vision is often a sign of high blood sugar levels and one of the first signs of diabetes.

Things You Should Do Now 

Eye health is extremely important so you should take charge now and ensure both your eye health and perhaps your overall health. Here are some things to do right away: 

1. Eat More Leafy Green Vegetables - Can we emphasize enough how important leafy greens are to your overall health? With their high percentage of zinc, vitamin c, and lutein, you will see the benefits for your body over time. Check out the NiftyPicks List of Favorite Greens.

2. Get Quality Sources of Omega-3's - Salmon, tuna, and eggs - are among the best sources for omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseeds and chia seeds are also great for a plant-based alternative. What ever route you go, always choose natural sources over pill formations. Your body will thank you for it.

3. Get More Vitamin C Naturally - Oranges, Lemons, Lime are the best natural sources of Vitamin C. This nutrient helps to keep the walls of your arteries from hardening. It helps to ward of the oxidation of bad artery-clogging cholesterol.

4. Wear UV Sunglasses - UV rays can cause all kinds of damage to the eyes including cancer.

5. Visit an Optometrist - For all the signs of eye problems that we can see in the mirror, there are hosts of others that only a trained eye care professional can observe and diagnose. Not sure how often to visit. Here's a general rule of thumb:

   1. People with no eye problems: Every 5 to 10 years -

   2. People with known eye problems: Every 2 to 4 years