From perceiving beauty to detecting potential dangers, your eyes play a fundamental role in your daily experiences and quality of life. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep your eyes healthy and protect your vision—here are 10 top guidelines.
- Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Early detection of eye diseases increases the likelihood of more effective treatment. Conditions such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration don’t always have warning signs, but can be assessed during an eye exam by an ophthalmologist.
- Know your family’s eye health history. Talk to your family members to find out if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition. This information will help you know if you’re at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.
- Visit your primary care doctor regularly. Annual wellness checkups are important to catch disease early, including conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which contribute to declining vision.
- Wear eye protection. When playing sports or doing activities around the home that could harm your eyes, wear protective eyewear, such as safety glasses, goggles, or safety shields.
- Sport the shades. The sun’s ultraviolet light rays can damage your eyes, and over time lead to conditions such as cataracts. When choosing sunglasses, look for lenses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
- Try the 20-20-20 rule. If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink, and your eyes can get fatigued. To help reduce eye strain, try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.
- Toss out tobacco. Research has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness. If you need help quitting, talk with your doctor about programs available; many are no-cost.
- Eat right. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, especially dark leafy greens, is essential for keeping your eyes healthy. There are also eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.
- Get a handle on your hygiene. Regularly wash your hands, face, and contact lenses to avoid contact from unwanted bacteria. Try to avoid touching your eyes, as they provide a warm and welcoming place for viruses to enter.
- Light up your life. Get strategic about the lighting in your home or workspace to accommodate the tasks at hand. Light sources that are too low or too bright can cause eye strain.
Learn more
Tips to Prevent Vision Loss – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention