Most of us take our eyesight for granted—unless something goes wrong. But there’s a lot you can do to keep your eyes healthy.
- Get regular comprehensive dilated eye exams. Many eye conditions don’t have any symptoms or warning signs. A dilated eye exam is the only way to check for many eye conditions early on, when they’re easier to treat.
- Know your family’s eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition because some are hereditary.
- Eat right to protect your sight. Eat plenty of dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale or collard greens, and fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, albacore tuna and halibut.
- Maintain a healthy weight. This Healthy Weight site from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can help.
- Wear protective eyewear. Safety glasses and goggles protect your eyes while you’re doing certain activities, like playing sports or doing home repairs.
- Quit smoking or never start. Smoking increases your risk of eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts — and it can harm your optic nerve.
- Wear sunglasses. Be sure to wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation.
- Wash your hands before handling your contacts. And make sure you clean your contact lenses properly to avoid infection.
- Practice workplace eye safety. Every day, 2,000 U.S. workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical attention. If your job presents a hazard to your eyes, make sure you consistently wear any personal protective eyewear, such as goggles, face shields, safety glasses, or full-face respirators.