Protect those baby blues — or browns, greens or hazels — with regular eye exams, good diet and plenty of sleep. And don’t forget to BLINK!
Retain your vision throughout your life with these 10 tips for healthy eyes: 1. Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration often have no warning signs. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages. An eye exam also exposes common vision problems that many people don’t realize they have. 2. Know your family’s eye health history. You should know if anyone in your family has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition. Many of these are hereditary, so ask around. 3. Eat right to protect your sight. Carrots aren't the only food good for your eyes. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale or collard greens, will help keep your eyes healthy. 4. Maintain a healthy weight. Your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions increases with your weight. Vision-threatening complications include diabetic eye disease, age-related cataracts and glaucoma. 5. Wear protective eyewear. Always wear protective eyewear, such as safety glasses, goggles or safety shields, when playing sports or doing activities around the home. 6. Quit smoking (or never start.) Smoking hurts your eyes as much as it does the rest of your body. Smoking increases the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness. 7. Be cool and wear your shades. Sunglasses might give you that rock star vibe, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays. Before choosing your look, check to make sure you are buying sunglasses that block out 99-100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation. 8. Give your eyes a rest. It's better to blink! For those of us who spend a lot of time staring at a computer or a phone screen, taking a break can help remind your eyes to blink. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eye strain and eye fatigue. 9. Properly clean your hands and your contact lenses. Always thoroughly wash your hands before putting in or taking out your contact lenses to avoid infection. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate. 10. Practice workplace eye safety. If your job requires protective eye wear, wear it! Employers are required to provide a safe work environment. Make sure you have the proper protection and make a habit of wearing it at all times.
