How Does a Healthy Lifestyle Impact Eye Health?

Did you know that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can significantly impact your eye health and vision? When we think of keeping ourselves healthy, we tend to think of diet and exercise, blood pressure, strength and weight. But there are several factors that can also improve eye health and therefore help you avoid eye disease as you age.

When you keep these goals in mind, commit to a healthy lifestyle and avoid some basic pitfalls, you are actively caring for your vision each and every day. Here are some reminders for making healthy choices for your eyes.

Do Not Smoke

As with most physical conditions, vision and eye health decline has a direct link to smoking tobacco. Eye issues such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy are conditions that are increased and made worse in people who smoke. In fact, those who smoke are two to three times more likely to develop AMD and two to three times more likely to develop cataracts. Smokers also experience twice as much dry eye syndrome.

Be Aware of Too Much Screen Time

So much of our days are spent in front of a computer or device these days. This can cause eye fatigue and dryness. If your job requires a lot of screen time, it is important to take breaks every two hours for five to ten minutes to give them recovery time. You can also make sure you are blinking enough to hydrate your eyes and staring for hours can cause dryness.

Nutrition Impacts Eye Health and Vision

In our article dated April 25, 2022, Did You Know Nutrition Matters for Vision?We discussed the nutrients and foods that are beneficial for keeping your eyes healthy and your vision strong. Foods high in vitamins A, E and C are good for your eyes as well as foods containing Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Omega 3s. For more specifics about what foods are high in these nutrients, please click the link above.

Healthy Weight Means Healthy Eyes

When you are carrying extra weight, especially if you are clinically obese, you are at higher risk for developing diabetes and other systemic conditions. Diabetes carries with it an increased risk of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy, cataracts or glaucoma. It is also important, regardless of weight, to keep on top of your glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels as these are also risk factors for diabetes and other conditions that can impact your vision.

Physical Activity

It might not seem like exercise and eye health are connected, but several studies over the last 10 years show there is definite improvement to eye health with regular exercise. Researchers have found connections between regular exercise and reducing risks for several eye ailments such as cataracts, wet age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Also, did you know cardiovascular workouts like aerobics, running and swimming will lower intraocular pressure (pressure in your eyes), which helps keep the retinal ganglion cells protected? Cardio exercise also increases blood flow to the optic nerve and the retina. So, get that workout in several times per week to improve overall eye health and vision. It’s good for us all, but it’s especially beneficial to people with glaucoma.

Sleep Enough

Are you getting enough sleep? The National Sleep Foundation recommends getting between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. Sleep is important for a variety of health conditions, but it also helps your eyes. During sleep, our eyes experience continuous lubrication. This rids the eyes of dust, allergens or smoke that accumulates during the day.

Overall health and wellness are important for all of us. And keeping your eye health in mind, especially if you are already experiencing vision loss or eye disease is particularly critical. If you are experiencing eye problems or have questions about how best to protect your vision, Dr. Salisbury can help. Schedule a consultation today to learn what you can do to keep your health on track.

Are You Intimidated by LASIK Surgery?

Are you nervous about getting LASIK surgery? Whether you are the kind of person who doesn’t like anything near your eyes – much less a laser – or are someone who has no issue putting in contacts or touching your eyes, LASIK surgery can be scary. But the benefits can far outweigh the fears if you prepare yourself and feel comfortable with your doctor.

Preparing for LASIK Surgery

The Facts

The best way to prepare for your LASIK surgery is to educate yourself on the procedure. The more you know what to expect, the less you will fear. So, let’s talk facts. LAISK surgery is one of the safest procedures with a complication rate of less than one percent according to WebMD. Additionally, it has never been the exclusive cause of blindness, according to the American Refractive Surgery Council. The council also reports that fewer than one percent of LASIK patients experience worse vision post-surgery.

What Happens During the Procedure?

Many patients are afraid of feeling pain during a LASIK procedure. You can put this fear to rest. During the procedure, you will feel almost nothing. It only takes five minutes, and while you are awake, you will be given a mild sedative and numbing drops to make sure you are completely comfortable. Occasionally, patients report a feeling of some pressure in the eye, but there is no pain at all.

Other patients are nervous about being able to keep their eyes open or accidentally moving their eyes during the procedure. A fairly comfortable speculum will be inserted to hold the eye open during the LASIK procedure. Also, Dr. Salisbury uses the most advanced laser technology which has a built-in eye tracker that can track small eye movements and keep the laser centered in case the eye moves during the vision correction portion of the procedure.

The first step to successful LAISK surgery is to choose a highly trained doctor. Dr. Salisbury completed an additional fellowship to specialize in cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery at Eye Consultants of Atlanta through Piedmont Hospital. He is also a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist. He can guide you through your best options and create a comfortable experience for your eye care.

The next step is to educate yourself. Ask your doctor questions, weigh all of your options, and understand the procedure. Knowing what to expect and how to care for yourself will ease the anxiety of a LASIK surgery.

Lastly, be sure you follow the doctor’s pre-op and post-op instructions and attend all of your appointments. If there were to be any complications or unexpected events, being compliant and following up with the doctor is critical in making sure you have the best possible outcome.

Success Rates of LASIK Surgery

The Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery reports that LASIK surgery has the highest patient satisfaction rates of any elective procedure in the United States. And studies show that 92 percent of patients who have all-laser topography achieved 20/20 vision or better.

Find Out if You are a Candidate for LASIK Surgery

As we move into the summer heat and spend more time outside, it would be nice to be able to ditch the prescription glasses or contacts, wouldn’t it? Swimming in the pool or the ocean and being able to see clearly would make it so much more enjoyable. And playing outdoor sports without sweat on your glasses or pouring into you contacts would be like a dream!

If you are interested in finding out if you are a candidate for LASIK surgery, please visit complete our contact form by clicking the link here or call our office at 251-341-3413.

Did You Know Nutrition Matters for Vision?

We all know that good nutrition helps keep us healthy, but did you know that when we tell our kids to eat their vegetables so that they can see far away, it is more than just a strategy to get kids to eat their carrots? Let’s break it down to understand what nutrients improve eye health and vision and where you can find them.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is important for eye health to the point that an extreme lack of it can cause night blindness, vision loss, and severe dry eye. Vitamin A also helps to prevent cataracts and macular degeneration which are leading causes of blindness.

Good sources of vitamin A include carrots, leafy greens, fish oil, eggs, and cantaloupe.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E protects cells in the eyes from free radicals which are unstable molecules that break down healthy tissue. Vitamin E is an ingredient in the AREDS2 vitamin formulation that decreases the risk of age-related macular degeneration progression.

Good food sources of vitamin E include vegetable oils such as safflower and corn oil, nuts, wheat germ, and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin C
Evidence suggests vitamin C lowers the risk of developing cataracts when taken in combination with other essential nutrients. It is known to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Vitamin C is also an ingredient in the AREDS2 vitamin formulation that decreases the risk of age-related macular degeneration progression.

Good sources of vitamin C are citruses like oranges and grapefruit, strawberries, papaya, green peppers, and tomatoes.

Lutein & Zeaxanthin
Lutein and zeaxanthin work as antoxidants to protect your eyes from harmful free radicals such as UV light rays. This combination is also an ingredient in the AREDS2 vitamin formulation that decreases the risk of age-related macular degeneration progression.

Good sources of lutein & zeaxanthin are dark leafy greens, colorful fruits and vegetables like broccoli, corn, peas, persimmons, and tangerines.

Essential fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely important for proper eye health. In pre-term and full-term infants, studies show that getting adequate omega-3 fatty acids in the diet is essential for optimal visual development as they help reduce inflammation, support tear production, and maintain the eye’s oily outer layer. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to improving common eye surface conditions such as dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction.

Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, tuna, and other cold-water fish.

Zinc
Zinc also plays a vital role in eye health and vision. It transports vitamin A from the liver to the retina in order to produce melanin. Melanin is a protective pigment in the eyes. Several conditions have been linked to a zinc deficiency including poor night vision and cloudy cataracts. Zinc is also an ingredient in the AREDS2 vitamin formulation that decreases the risk of age-related macular degeneration progression.

Good sources of zinc are red meat, oysters and other shellfish, and nuts and seeds.

If you and your family want to stay on top of your eye health, be sure to eat plenty of nutrient-rich foods and schedule your annual eye exam today! You can book an appointment by calling 251-341-3413 or completing our contact form here.

Who is Dr. Drew Salisbury?

Dr. Drew Salisbury is passionate not only about his patients’ eye health but also about building strong relationships and becoming a part of the fabric of the community he grew up in. A Mobile native, Dr. Salisbury and his family now reside in Mobile, and he is excited to build the same kind of foundation his father built in his practice at Premier Medical.

“Following in your father’s footsteps can be a daunting endeavor,” Dr. Salisbury said. “But my dad cared about each and every one of his patients, and they stayed with him. That is what I want in my practice – not just a one-time visit, but a lasting relationship where I am a part of the overall health and wellness of my patients and their families.”

Dr. Salisbury has recently launched this website as a way to interact on a more personal level with the community. As a part of Premier Medical, he has the resources of the practice to offer the latest in technology and care while building individual relationships with his patients and community members.

He will continually provide informative articles to help the community better understand eye health, vision correction, and how your overall health and wellness contribute to better long-term vision.

Dr. Salisbury has a particular interest in vision correction surgery and spent an extra year of fellowship traning in cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery at Eye Consultants of Atlanta through Piedmont Hospital. He believes that with his specialized training and access to the latest technology, he can offer all of his patients options that will keep their eyesight focused, sharp, and clear.

We invite you to subscribe to our newsletter here to keep up to date on the latest information for your eye care.  We also welcome questions or comments through our contact page on the website or on our social media.

On the website you can learn more about the following procedures:

Dr. Salisbury is a cornea and refractive specialist who performs cataract surgery, LASIK, PRK, ICL, corneal transplants including PKP, DSAEK, DMEK, and DALK, and minimally Invasive glaucoma surgery. He also performs iLink cross-linking procedure, which is currently the only FDA-approved treatment for progressive keratoconus.

Learn more about his experience here.