You only have one pair of eyes. And while people frequently develop serious eye conditions as they age, or due to illness and injury, there are many things you can do to protect your eyes from unnecessary damage.
From Clínica Nivaria and with the help of our leading ophthalmology specialists in Santa Cruz de Tenerife , we tell you the reasons to give your eyes more love and attention, before it's too late.
You could have glaucoma but not know it
About half of all people with glaucoma don't realize they have this eye disease, which can cause blindness; there are no symptoms or signs in the early stages. A significant amount of peripheral (side) vision may be lost before the problem is noticed.
What can you do?: Glaucoma cannot be prevented, but damage can be slowed if the disease is detected early. Consult one of our ophthalmologists for a routine eye exam annually.
Eye damage from ultraviolet light
Ultraviolet (UV) light causes sun damage and skin cancer, but it can also cause cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
What can you do?: Wearing a wide-brimmed hat reduces eye exposure to ultraviolet light by 50%, but a hat and sunglasses together reduce exposure by up to 98%. Choose a wrap-around style that fits snugly, and make sure your sunglasses are high quality.
Macular degeneration is common
Approximately 1 in 7 people over the age of 50 show some evidence of macular degeneration (MD). This is a group of eye diseases that causes the progressive loss of central vision, while leaving peripheral vision intact. Macular degeneration causes approximately half of all cases of legal blindness.
What can you do?: Experts aren't sure what causes macular degeneration, but they believe good lifestyle habits may help prevent it. Not smoking, maintaining healthy blood pressure, eating more fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fats, managing your weight, and protecting your eyes from the sun may reduce your risk.
Diabetes can cause eye disease
People living with diabetes may have difficulty focusing their eyes, but this can be managed by keeping blood sugar levels stable. However, the risk of diabetic retinopathy increases the longer someone has diabetes and if their blood sugar levels are not properly controlled over time. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the retina of the eye is slowly damaged, causing symptoms such as blurred, distorted, or irregular vision, sensitivity to glare, and loss of balance.
What can you do?: If you have diabetes, it is advisable to visit us annually and have your blood sugar, cholesterol levels and blood pressure checked.
Dermal fillers can be risky
Injectable or dermal fillers add volume to the face and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It is a popular cosmetic procedure considered "low risk," but globally, there have been cases where dermal fillers have affected eye health.
What can you do?: If you would like to use fillers to reduce wrinkles, select an experienced and qualified doctor.
If you want to take care of your eyes and those of your family, we look forward to seeing you at our Ophthalmology Clinic located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife . Contact us and schedule an appointment with one of our professionals. You'll receive the best ophthalmological care in the Canary Islands!
Book your appointment today by calling us at 822 027 777. We'd be delighted to see you at our Ophthalmology Clinic in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
