The Importance of Scheduling Annual, Eye Exams
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The Importance of Scheduling Annual, Eye Exams

A few years ago, my dear maternal grandmother visited an optometrist. After thoroughly examining my grandmother’s eyes, this medical professional informed her that she had cataracts in both of them. Concerned, my grandmother immediately made an appointment with a surgeon. The two surgeries to remove the cataracts from my grandmother’s eyes were successful. Scheduling annual eye exams is crucial. During these appointments, your optometrist will check for potentially harmful conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. On this blog, I hope you will discover the most important reasons you should visit your eye doctor every year. Enjoy!

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The Importance of Scheduling Annual, Eye Exams

Reducing Your Glaucoma Risks By Decreasing Eye Pressure

Stella Harvey

If you have a family history of glaucoma, are over the age of 60, or are an African American over 40, then you may be at risk of developing glaucoma. This is also true if you have high blood pressure or if your eye doctor has discovered that you have elevated pressure within your eyes. If you are at risk of developing glaucoma, then it is wise to meet with an ophthalmologist, like one at Valentine Eye Care, at least once a year so that visual acuity, dilated eye, tonometry, and pachymetry tests can be completed. You should also make sure to take care of your eyes at home. Keeping eye pressure low can reduce your risks. Keep reading to find out how you can naturally reduce eye pressure. 

Reduce Sugar Intake

Diabetes has been linked to increased eye pressure and glaucoma risks, and this link can be traced back to the amount of insulin in your body. Type 2 diabetes is specifically linked to glaucoma. When you have this disease, your body becomes resistant to insulin and the pancreas must release more and more of the hormone. The increase in insulin causes eye pressure to elevate, and the elevation will increase as insulin levels rise. 

Even if you do not have diabetes, insulin levels may be high if you eat a lot of sugar. Insulin is needed to regulate the sugar in your bloodstream and consumed sugars will trigger the insulin release. This means that you should reduce your sugar and carbohydrate intake if you want to keep eye pressure under control. 

You should limit the amount of sweets you eat and also cut down on the amount of white bread you consume. Try to eat whole grains and consume sweet fruits instead of candies and cakes.

Start Exercising

Studies show that exercise can decrease eye pressure significantly, and jogging has been proven to be the most effective activity to keep eye pressure under control. Exercise helps to reduce the chemicals in the body that contribute to eye pressure, and it also reduces blood pressure. If jogging is not an activity that you want to partake in, then consider adding a different form of aerobic exercise to your daily routine. Taking a brisk walk, riding a bicycle, and swimming can assist your eye pressure issue as well.

For the best health, make sure to exercise two and a half hours a week if exercise is moderately intensive. If activities are more intensive and vigorous, then get at least one hour and fifteen minutes of exercise a week. 


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