Eye conditions like cataracts, macular degeneration, and cataracts are more likely to occur as you get older. You want to make sure your dad is doing everything possible to keep his eyes healthy. What steps should you and his senior home care providers be taking to help him maintain his vision?
Make Sure He Eats a Balanced Diet
Eye health starts with a balanced diet. Studies show that foods rich in zinc, zeaxanthin, vitamin E, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein help lower the risk of eye diseases like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Your dad’s eyes benefit from him enjoying foods high in these vitamins and minerals.
Some foods he should enjoy each day include nuts and seeds, fatty fish, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, citrus fruits, dark, leafy greens, and bell peppers. Ideally, he wants to plate his meals so that half of his plate has fruits and vegetables, a quarter of his plate has a whole grain, and the other quarter has a serving of fish or another lean protein.
Wear Sunglasses
When he’s outside, your dad needs to have sunglasses on. He wants sunglasses that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Ideally, the frames should be wide enough to fully cover his eye and eyelids to keep any sunlight from coming in from the side and damaging his eyes.
Use Safety Glasses When Doing Household Projects
Your dad should wear protective safety glasses when he’s doing some household projects. If he’s cleaning his oven with a chemical cleaner, he wants to have protective glasses or goggles to keep any of the oven cleaner from getting into his eyes.
If he’s replacing some decking, he needs to have safety glasses on when using a saw. He should also wear glasses when using his drill or other power tools. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to put on protective eyewear when he’s hammering nails, too.
Schedule Yearly Eye Exams and Have Senior Home Care Aides Accompany Him
Make sure your dad has transportation to and from his eye appointments. A thorough exam uses dilation eye drops that may make his vision distorted for a few hours. It makes it hard to drive.
If you can’t take time off work or live too far away, consider senior home care transportation services. Your dad can have a caregiver drive him to his eye doctor’s practice and accompany him during the appointment if he wants.
Senior home care services also help your dad around the home. You can hire caregivers to clean his house, cook his meals, and keep him company. Call our senior home care specialist to get started.
Sources: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/diet-and-nutrition?sso=y