It’s likely that the only time we pay much attention to our eyes is when we are putting in our contact lenses, applying our mascara, or squinting to see who’s waving at us from across a crowded room. It’s important to know that by the time we reach middle age, we should be just as concerned about the health of our eyes as we are about the health of our bones! Our eyes age just like the rest of our body, so rather than worrying about getting gray hair, we might want to learn more about our eye health.

Nearly everyone will develop presbyopia as they age. How can we tell if the condition has happened? Well, for starters we’re holding our reading material further and further away in order to see it. And because our arms aren’t going to get any longer, perhaps it’s time to think about buying a pair of reading glasses.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in American adults, and with the rise in diabetes, this problem is likely to become even more prevalent as Baby Boomers age. Glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration are also major concerns as we get older – and older isn’t very old – because cataracts can begin when we reach our 40s. When it comes to our eyes and their health, a good motto to remember is that insight (paying attention and getting eye exams) is far superior to hindsight (wishing we’d taken care of our eyes before serious problems occurred). Here are some more eye-opening facts for you to consider:

• Glaucoma develops at an earlier age and can be more resistant to treatment in African-Americans than in Caucasians. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans, and is almost three times as common in African-Americans as in Caucasians
• About 1 in 5 Hispanic adults have cataracts, and about half of those are visually impaired. About 5% have open angle glaucoma, a higher rate than that found among white populations and similar to rates in African-American populations
• Two-thirds of the 40 million people in the world who are blind are women
• Common eye diseases like dry eye syndrome, autoimmune diseases, and certain forms of cataracts are more prevalent in women than in men
• Men generally have better distance vision and depth perception, while women usually have better night vision, can see better at the red end of the light spectrum, and have better visual memory

There are preventive measures we can take to help assure our visual health and slow down the age-related variables of eye damage. A few of these include:

• Quit smoking
• Wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat when in the sun
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Take fish oil supplements daily or eat fish two to three times a week
• Eat three or more servings of fruit every day
• Eat green, leafy vegetables
• Get a full vision examination at least every two years
• Take a 30-minute walk every day
• Replace eye makeup every three to six months
• Don’t fall asleep with daily-wear contact lenses