Visit your eye care professional for an eye test or detailed eye examination every year. Even when your eyesight is clear and your eyes appear healthy, a visit to an eye professional is the only way to be sure that everything is fine. Remember - Check Yearly, See Clearly!
If you have a prescription; eyeglasses and contact lenses provide you crisp, clear and comfortable vision. Not wearing your prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses certainly strains your eyes making them work harder. Wear your prescription as recommended by your optometrist or eye doctor.
Be aware of your family history of general health and eye conditions like diabetes, hypertension, cardiac problems, arthritis, glaucoma, age related macular degeneration to name a few. This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.
Blink frequently and take regular breaks especially while working on a computer. Giving proper rest to your eyes will reduce eye strain (avoiding headaches and double vision). Follow the 20:20:20 rule i.e. every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds to relax your eyes.
A balanced diet consisting of colorful fruits and vegetables especially dark green leafy vegetables and foods such as carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers, strawberries, pumpkin, corn and compounds that give these fruits and vegetables their yellow, orange and red pigments - are thought to help decrease the risk of many eye diseases. Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.
Practice workplace eye safety. Where protective eyewear is required as a part of your job, make a habit of wearing the appropriate type at all times and encourage your coworkers to do the same. The same applies to DIY activities and risk sports.
Consume at least six to eight glasses a day to stay hydrated. Your tears and the delicate skin around your eyes are particularly susceptible to dryness.
To avoid any risk of infections like spread of colds, runny eyes and eye infections like conjunctivitis (pink eyes); ensure you wash your hands frequently. This becomes all the more important when wearing contact lenses. Before handling contact lenses to wear or remove them, hand washing with soap and water is a must.
Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. 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. Smokers are twice as likely to go blind in later life. You have only one pair of eyes, look after them.
Last but not the least, if you experience any change with your eyes in terms of vision, appearance and well-being, take prompt action of visiting an eye care professional as timely intervention can diagnose and treatment can reduce long terms problems. Every day, ask yourself: "Do my eyes look good, feel good and see well?"