Costco Connection - July 2010

for your health

Ditch smoking
if you smoke, you’re significantly more
likely to develop arMD. Plus, you’re 2. 9
times more likely to get cataracts, decades
earlier than the 70-year-old norm. each time
you light up, smoking harms the blood vessels
in the eye. Quitting halts vessel damage and
reduces your risk of these disorders.

Jeepers peepers
Lifestyle has an impact on your vision

By Jennifer Nelson

While it’s a no-brainer that eating right and exercising regularly affects your heart health and cholesterol count, you may be surprised to learn that those things matter to your eyes, too. “the eyes are a barometer of your health,” says sandy Feldman, an ophthalmologist and Costco member in san Diego. living a healthy lifestyle directly improves your vision and safeguards the health of your eyes, decreasing your risk for eye disease.

here’s how to best protect your peepers.

Focus on fruits and vegetables

“When your mom told you carrots were good for your eyes, she was giving good advice,” says Dr. Feldman. research shows a diet high in antioxidants as well as certain vitamins and minerals may help prevent or slow the progression of arMD. Full of vitamin a and beta carotene, veggies such as carrots, sweet potatoes, peaches and mangoes reduce the risk of glaucoma and arMD. What’s more, leafy greens such as spinach, kale, collards and swiss chard are loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids crucial for the health of the retina. omega- 3 fatty acids, found in fish, nuts and vegetable oils, also lower the risk and slow the progression of arMD by blocking the buildup of plaque in the arteries and reducing inflammation. and vitamin C–rich choices such as green peppers, tomatoes and oranges help protect the eyes against damage from ultraviolet light.

a study in the International Journal of Obesity found women with a body mass index of 30 or more have an increased risk of cataracts, a clouding of the lens. Plus, regular exercise reduces intraocular pressure in people with glaucoma, a symptomless disorder that causes blindness. aim to work up a sweat at least 30 minutes, three days per week, to prevent these diseases from stealing your sight.

Don sunglasses
the sun’s UVa and UVb rays can actually
burn the conjunctiva, the thin membrane cov-
ering the whites of the eyes. Ultraviolet light
causes cataracts to come on sooner and wors-
ens arMD too. besides, ultraviolet light can
cause a pterygium, a small fleshy growth that
forms on the white of the eye and can interfere
with vision. so cover up with sunglasses even
on cloudy days. look for glasses that provide
100 percent UV protection, and buy large
frames or frames that fit close to the eyes.

Dial down your weight

“Maintaining a healthy body through exercise is a vital part of maintaining all of the body’s organs, including the eye,” says Dr. richard nauheim, director of the department of ophthalmology at south nassau Communities hospital and assistant clinical professor of surgery at s.U.n. Y. stony brook school of Medicine. obesity affects sufficient blood flow, even to the eyes. it’s also associated with hypertension, high cholesterol and vessel inflammation, which raise the risk for age-related macular degeneration (arMD), a slow-progressing eye disorder that is the leading cause of blindness in those over 65.

Safeguard
your vision

The Costco Connection Costco members can schedule eye exams and get prescription glasses, contacts and sunglasses at most Costco locations.

1.;Don’t;over-wear;or;sleep;with contact;lenses;in;since;infections and;abrasions;can;result.

2.;Replace;eye;makeup;twice;yearly so;it;doesn’t;harbor;germs;that can;cause;infections.

3.;Take;hourly;breaks;from;the computer;and;focus;eyes;20 feet;away;for;a;few;minutes to;prevent;eye;strain.

4.;Wear;protective;polycarbonate safety;goggles;for;activities around;the;home;that;pose;a risk;of;flying;debris.

5.;Check;with;your;doctor;about lubricating;drops;or;an;artificial-tears;solution;if;you’re;bothered by;dry;eyes.—JN

Get your eyes examined
even if you don’t have a vision problem,
Just a little attention to eating, exercise
and habits can help stave off sight-stealing eye
disease, delay cataracts and prevent other
conditions from worsening. “taking care of
your overall health directly impacts how well
you see,” says Dr. Feldman. C