Photo by: REMANY
Happy 50th birthday! While it may not be your birthday, as many as 11,000 people turn 50 every day and I bet that at least one person you know and love will turn 50 this year.
Last year, AARP magazine declared that “50 is the new 50,” citing the prevalence of pop culture icons who hit the mid-century mark. Today’s 50-year-olds are Prince and Madonna. They are taking on new careers, still parenting young children and hopefully making a healthy diet and exercise a priority.
But even if 50 feels more like turning 30, flag this year for a proper head-to-toe check up. And while the typical mammogram, prostate exam and colon screening may be on your radar, here are five things you should do for your eye health this year and from here on in.
1. Prevention is key. If you have vision problems, you should be seeing your ophthalmologist once a year. If you don’t, now is the time to start, in order to prevent common eye problems associated with aging, like dry age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. for people over age 50.
2. Know the symptoms. Your headache and tired eyes may not just be the symptoms of staying out too late celebrating with your friends. If symptoms like these are common, you may need reading glasses. Consult with your eye doctor.
3. Bigger is better. As you age, you may start to experience “low vision” don’t strain your eyes by trying to see things more clearly. Instead, consider changing the lighting in a room, reading large-print books and writing with a bolder, felt-tip pen.
4. The future’s so bright, you’ve gotta wear shades! Make sure you have a really good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from too much sunlight. Be sure that they block ultraviolet rays and if you spend a lot of time outside, you may consider wearing a brimmed hat.
5. Be on the lookout. You should be aware and visit your eye doctor immediately if start to have double vision, see flashes of light, have eyelid swelling or redness, pain or suddenly can’t see.
Remember, the best protection is prevention. Treat your eye health with as much priority as you treat the other medical milestones in your life.
