5 Way to Optimize Your Vision
- See your Doctor of Optometry for an up-to-date prescription for corrective lenses. Your optometrist will ensure your prescription power gives you the clearest and most comfortable vision possible.
- Customize your eyewear designs and styles to your visual demands and activities. Just like you wouldn’t wear the same pair of shoes for every activity, your eyewear should be customized to optimize your vision. Here is the list of eyewear that I use on a regular basis:
- Everyday progressive lenses with anti-reflective coatings (4 pairs – different frame styles!)
- Prescription sunglasses
- Computer glasses for the office work environment
- Contact lenses for sports and recreation
- Non-prescription sunglasses for over contacts lenses – fashion pair
- Non-prescription sunglasses for over contacts lenses – lightweight wrap-around sporty pair
- Customize your lens tints and treatments to the activities you are doing. For example:
- Office environments: Blue-blocking anti-reflective coatings to soften the harsh lighting
- Boating and fishing: Polarized lenses to reduce glare and see into the water
- Golfing: Brown or green photochromic lens tints to optimize vision on the fairways
- Night driving: Drivesafe lenses to reduce glare and improve visual performance
- Skiing: Pink or amber tints to improve depth perception on the snow
- Shooting and archery: Amber or yellow lens tints to brighten focus on the targets
- Improve your night vision. Increasing evidence is showing that a diet rich in carotenoids vitamins – lutein and zeaxanthin – can improve dark adaptation and contrast sensitivity. This can enhance your visual function at night and in lower lighting levels, and may help prevent onset or progression of macular degeneration. Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in dark leafy greens and brightly-colored fruits and vegetables. Carotenoid vitamin supplements are also available - ask your Optometrist about the best options.
- Keep your eyes healthy and seeing well through eye health maintenance strategies and a healthy lifestyle.
- Maintain good hygiene of your eyelids using a gentle cleanser daily to remove make-up and bacterial build-up
- Take breaks from prolonged computer/reading work using the 20/20/20 rule – every 20min look 20 feet away for 20 seconds before resuming your focused work
- Follow the protocols your Optometrist gives you to help manage dry eyes
- Avoid smoking and vaping due to the oxidative stress and damage it does to the eye
- Avoid inflammatory foods – those high in sugar and highly processed
- Control your diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol
Dr. Lisa Scharf, Optometrist
