With Thanksgiving just days away, we’re betting that you have big plans of some sort on your mind. Whether you’re traveling for the holiday or hosting a Thanksgiving meal at your own home, you’ll likely also be giving thanks for the good things going for you in life. But will you be giving thanks for your eyesight?
Healthy vision is admittedly something that’s easy to take for granted. Unfortunately, our staff know firsthand how quickly problems can develop that interfere with the ability to see clearly. That’s why this Thanksgiving, we’re encouraging Everett And Hurite’s staff and patients alike to give thanks for their healthy vision in three easy ways:
1) Eat a delicious but still nutritious Thanksgiving meal. Our eyes - like our bodies - rely on the nutrients we eat to stay healthy and function normally. Fortunately, it’s not too hard to work eye-healthy foods into our diets, especially during Thanksgiving. Here are just three examples of Thanksgiving meal staples and possibilities that could benefit your vision:
- Pumpkin - and, of course, pumpkin pie - contains Vitamin A, a nutrient that helps our eyes stay healthy and able to fight off infections. Pumpkins also contain beta-carotene, which the body converts into even more Vitamin A.
- Sweet potatoes are also a great source of Beta-carotene, while yams - a sister food - are rich in Omega-3’s. Since current research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent the abnormal blood vessel growth seen in certain eye diseases, and since beta-carotene is known to promote good eyesight and night vision, these are two foods that are well worth enjoying this Thanksgiving!
- Leafy green vegetables are always worth including in any meal. Depending on which ones you eat, these vegetables will provide you with a wide range of different vitamins and nutrients, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C,Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, lutein, and zeaxanthin. In addition to helping your body grow healthier overall, a balanced diet that’s full of these nutrients can help reduce your overall risk of developing many eye issues, including cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other age-related eye diseases.
A good rule of thumb is “the more colorful your plate is, the happier your eyes will be” - so be sure to get lots of color on your plate this Thanksgiving!
2) Protect your eyes - even in the kitchen. Chances are that, like most people, you don’t tend to think that safety goggles are a must when you’re cooking dinner. But this mundane part of our schedules can actually pose a big risk for our vision health. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma, “nearly half of the estimated 2.5 million eye injuries reported each year happen in and around the home … [And] More than 40% of those eye injuries happen during everyday activities such as cooking.” Needless to say, Thanksgiving can become quite a busy day in the kitchen; so this is one holiday where vision protection is definitely worth the investment - better safe than sorry, after all!
3) Schedule an annual eye exam. Annual eye exams are one of the easiest ways you can ensure that your eyes are getting the attention they need from a medical professional. Eye exams are particularly important because a number of vision issues develop with no outwardly noticeable symptoms. So if you are overdue for an exam, now is the time to contact our offices and to schedule a check-in, just to make sure everything is as it should be behind your field of vision.
Do you have questions about your eye care or vision needs this season? Please don’t hesitate to contact your local Everett And Hurite office to speak to one of our experts or to schedule an appointment. We are here, ready, and happy to work with all of our patients to ensure that their vision needs are being met!
