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It is important that you know your family’s eye health history; has anyone been diagnosed with a potentially hereditary disease or condition? This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition. Thereafter, incorporate care of your eye health into your regular daily routine and your annual health care check-up.
Similar to the rest of your body, smoking is bad for your eyes. Smoking is linked to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and optic nerve damage, which can all lead to blindness.
Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam
The painless test is one of the best things you can do to make sure that your eyes are healthy. The test looks for common vision problems and early stages of eye diseases that have no obvious early warning signs, such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration. Regular comprehensive eye exams can help you protect your sight and make sure that you are seeing your best. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that everyone gets a baseline eye examination at age 40 – follow up screening will depend upon the results of the baseline exam – and annual/biennial eye examinations from age 65.
Eat well
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens is important for maintaining healthy eyes. Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.
Maintain a healthy weight
Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions; this can lead to vision problems such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma.
Stop smoking (or better still, never start!)
Similar to the rest of your body, smoking is bad for your eyes. Smoking is linked to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and optic nerve damage, which can all lead to blindness.
Wear sunglasses
Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses look for ones that block 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Wear protective eyewear
Protective eyewear (safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards) are designed to provide the correct protection for potentially dangerous activities, both at work and during recreational activities.
Reduce eye strain
If you spend a lot of time at the computer you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away from the screen across the room (about 6 metres/20 feet in front of you) for 20 seconds.
Clean your hands and your contact lenses properly
To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate.
