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Jeepers Creepers, Take Care of Those Peepers!

By Krista Elliott

They say that the eyes are the window to the soul. Could be. Who am I to argue with whoever "they" are? At any rate, what's not up for argument is just how important our eyes are. Our peepers allow us to take in the world around us, alerting us to basic survival elements like danger, food, and water. As well, they let us communicate non-verbally, observe facial expressions, take in visual entertainment, and so on. They also play a big role in our physical appearance and help distinguish us from others. It's a tall order for two small orbs!

Do You See What I See?
 
Like any other body part, our eyes aren't immune to disease, injury, or a decline in functionality. Let's take a look at some of the most common eye conditions, which people are born with or develop over time.
  • Nearsightedness - a condition in which objects that are near can be seen clearly, but objects farther away are blurry
  • Farsightedness - an impairment that makes objects close to the eyes seem blurry, yet objects that are far from you are seen clearly
  • Astigmatism - an irregularity in the domed-shaped curvature of the cornea, which results in distorted images
  • Blindness - the inability to see anything (even light), or partial blindness, which causes vision to be very limited
  • Lazy eye (amblyopia) - reduced vision in one eye caused by abnormal visual development early in life, sometimes causing the weaker "lazy" eye to wander inward or outward
  • Pink eye (conjunctivitis) - redness and swelling, most commonly caused by contagious infections stemming from viruses or bacteria
  • Cataracts - clouding of the eye's natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil, normally caused by the normal aging process
  • Macular degeneration - deterioration of the eye's macula, which is a small area in the retina, most often caused by aging
  • Eye injuries - damage to the eye as a result of an accident, being hit in the face, or a foreign object getting in the eye
Luckily there are measures that we can take to protect our eyes against disease and injury, and help slow age-related conditions.
  • Wear protective eyewear when playing sports, doing renovations, or handling chemicals.

  • Good quality sunglasses reduce exposure to retina-damaging UVA and UVB rays.

  • Have regular vision exams. If you experience sudden changes or injury to your eyes, visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist right away.

  • Be sure to wash your hands before putting in contact lenses or applying eye make-up.

  • Avoid touching your eyes whenever possible, to reduce exposure to germs -- especially if you haven't washed your hands.

  • Eat foods that are beneficial for eye health, such as carrots, leafy greens, eggs, citrus fruit, berries, almonds, and fatty fish like salmon.

  • Maintain a healthy weight, to ward off conditions such as type 2 diabetes, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

  • Don't smoke. You're more likely to end up with cataracts, damage to your optic nerve, and macular degeneration if you do.

Mother Nature had a lot of say regarding the eyes you were born with, but it's now up to you to look after them. And with a bit of effort and care, your peepers can be keepers for the long haul! 

 

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