Older Americans know that Medicare does not include so-called “above the neck” items such as dental care, vision, and hearing. In any case, who needs good teeth, eyes and ears?
President Biden proposed to include these in his social spending bill, but the opposition wall of Republicans and a few Democrats such as West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin forced the president to retreat. The new bill he is pushing will cover hearing, but for dental care and vision, seniors will continue to pay for insurance out of their pockets.
Of course, preventive medicine is the best — and the cheapest — care. In terms of maintaining good vision, you can take many measures to better take care of your eyes. Some things are very simple.
Read: Seniors get the biggest social security pay increase in years-but it has been swallowed by inflation
Drink water. “Drinking plenty of water helps the body produce tears, which is important to prevent dry eyes,” wrote Dr. Vicente Diaz, an ophthalmologist at Yale University. Pure water, natural flavor or carbonated water is best; Diaz recommends avoiding caffeinated beverages or alcohol.
Walk around more. Everyone knows that exercise is a good health and anti-aging therapy, but it turns out that it also helps keep your eyesight sharp. The American Journal of Ophthalmology pointed out that even low-to-moderate-intensity exercise can reduce the likelihood of age-related macular degeneration-which affects approximately 2 million Americans. Most importantly, a 2018 study of glaucoma patients found that walking an extra 5,000 steps a day can reduce the rate of vision loss by 10%. So: go hiking.
Eat well and drink well. Of course, carrots are really good for your peepers. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that you also need to make sure to include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, such as tuna and salmon. There are also green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale, which are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that are good for the eyes. Vitamin C is also very good for the eyes, which means oranges and grapefruits. However, orange juice is high in sugar, so everything should be in moderation.
But exercise, staying hydrated, and eating right are only half the battle. Sunglasses protect against harmful ultraviolet rays, which can cause cataracts. And don’t make the mistake of thinking that shadows are only needed on sunny days. “Whether it is sunny or cloudy, wear sunglasses in summer and winter,” health writer Michael Dregni urged on ExperienceLife.com
Leave the screen. Research sponsored by the Vision Council claims that 59% of people who “usually use computers and digital devices” (in other words, almost everyone) “have experienced symptoms of digital eye fatigue (also known as computer eye fatigue or computer vision syndrome) .”
In addition to reducing screen time (if possible), the visual advice site AllAboutVision.com also provides tips on how to reduce eye fatigue, starting with reducing ambient lighting-fewer and lower intensity light bulbs. Reduce external light by closing curtains, curtains or blinds. Other tips:
Finally, what about the “Blu-ray” glasses? I have always heard that they help protect your eyes, but the Cleveland Clinic recently cited this study, which determined that “there is little evidence to support the use of blue blocking filters to prevent digital eye strain.”
On the other hand, it added: “It is well known that blue light can disrupt your sleep schedule because it disrupts your circadian rhythm (your internal biological clock will tell you when to sleep or wake up).” So the clinic added Say, if you “persist on playing mobile phones late at night or have insomnia, Blu-ray glasses may be a good choice.”
Paul Brandus is a columnist for MarketWatch and the White House bureau chief of West Wing Reports. Follow him on Twitter @westwingreport.
Post time: Dec-02-2021