teens and tweens and contact lensesteens and tweens and contact lenses

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teens and tweens and contact lenses

Do you have a teen or tween that is begging to get rid of his or her glasses and start wearing contact lenses? Do you keep fighting with him or her because you worry about the cost and the potential health risks associated with wearing contact lenses? That is exactly why I fought my daughter about getting contact lenses for about two years. This year, I decided to start researching things a little deeper to find out if all of my concerns were legitimate. Boy, I was surprised when I learned what I did. This blog will share the insight about teens and tweens and contact lenses.

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3 Things That Can Put Your At Risk For Cataracts

1 October 2015
 Categories: , Blog

If you develop cataracts, there is a film over your eyes that makes everything start looking cloudy, dim, or blurry to you. You may also notice things will not be as colorful or bright as they once were. Below are three things that can put you more at risk of developing cataracts so you can give yourself a better chance of preventing them.

Alcohol Consumption

If you drink alcohol on occasion, you do not have to worry. If you drink more than this, however, you put yourself at risk for cataracts. This is because the alcohol can damage the nerves behind your eyes.  Alcohol is packed with calories, but does not contain any essential nutrients. If you drink heavily, it can make you feel full, so you eat less healthy food that provides you with the nutrients your eyes need to stay healthy, such as antioxidants. Some foods that you can eat to provide you with antioxidants are blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, potatoes, artichokes, and beans.

Smoking

If you are a smoker, you know it is not healthy for you and can cause things like, lung cancer and heart disease. You also have three times the risk of developing cataracts than someone that does not smoke. This is because free radicals are present in tobacco smoke, which affects your eyes directly. Smoking also reduces the levels of antioxidants in your body. If you need help quitting smoking, there are many smoking cessation products on the market. Your doctor can also help you, and there are likely smoking cessation groups in your area.

Sun Damage

If you spend a lot of time outdoors without eye protection, your eyes are not protected from the sun's harmful rays. Over time, this exposure to the sun's ultra violet (UV) rays can damage your retina. When this happens, everything may start to appear yellowish and cataracts can form. Wear sunglasses that offer 100% protection from UV rays. See your eye doctor if you need help choosing a pair of sunglasses.  If you currently wear glasses, your eye doctor can prescribe you prescription sunglasses that offer you the protection you need.

See your eye doctor regularly for checkups. The doctor will check your eyes not only for vision, but make sure they are healthy.  If the doctor finds that you are in the early stages of cataracts, they can offer you tips on slowing down the progression of them or if need be, schedule you for a cataract surgery.