The best chance to help safe-guard your vision is to detect issues early with regular eye examinations. Between examinations, if you notice a change in your vision, or your eyes are injured in any way, contact your eye doctor as soon as possible. Remember, if you are over 60 years old, you should have an eye exam every year. Eye health may also be maintained by exercise, diet, rest and other healthy habits.
Here are seven tips to keep your eyes healthy:
1. Be active
Regular exercise can delay the onset of age-related macular degeneration – the leading cause of permanent vision loss later in life.
2. Schedule eye exams regularly
A comprehensive eye exam can detect serious problems, like diabetes, before you even know they exist!
3. Wear sunglasses
Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays, which can be dangerous even on cloudy days.
4. Rest your eyes
Rest your eyes once every 20 minutes for 20 seconds while on your cell phone, tablet or computer, to help prevent eye strain.
5. Eat your fruits & vegetables
A diet rich in fruits, leafy greens and omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce your risk of dry eyes, macular degeneration, glaucoma and more.
6. Drink lots of water
Without enough water, you can’t produce enough tears to keep your eyes moist and nourished.
7. Lubricate
Add moisture to the eyes to relieve discomfort. Eye drops add some of the same elements that your tears naturally have.
