How Can I Promote My Eye Health?

Do you wear sunglasses when you are outdoors?

If you are a smoker, have you stopped smoking?

Do you eat a healthy, balanced diet?

Are you trying to achieve and maintain a healthy weight?

Do you exercise regularly?

Do you get regular eye examinations (every five to 10 years in your 20s and 30s, every two to four years from 40 to 54, every one to three years from 55 to 64, every one to two years after age 65)?

Do you wear goggles during sports such as hockey and baseball and home projects such as house repairs, gardening and cleaning?

Are you familiar with your family history of eye diseases?

Do you avoid eye strain?

If you wear contacts, do you take measures to prevent eye infections (wash your hands before put in or take out your contact lenses and clean them properly)?

Based on your answers, there are several other ways that can help you promote your eye health. You should wear sunglasses when you are outdoors, because exposure to UV sunlight can damage your eyes and increase your risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Smoking also contributes to the development of age-related eye diseases and damage to the optic nerve. You should eat a healthy balanced diet, especially green leafy vegetables and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna, seafood). Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight contribute to the prevention of diabetes, high blood pressure and other diseases that can potentially lead to vision problems.

Based on your answers, you know a lot about how to promote your eye health. If you spend a lot of time working at a computer, you should occasionally rest your eyes. Use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look away from your computer at an object 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. Regular eye examinations are extremely important, especially for people who have a family history of eye diseases, as well as for those who are over 40, because at this time, changes in vision usually begin to appear. Be sure to wear goggles when you play certain sports, or doing repairs or projects in your home.