How to Maintain Good Eye Health

Don't take your eyesfor granted. Protect your sight with these six tips: 1. Eat for Good Vision Protecting your eyesstarts with the food on your plate. Nutrientssuch as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitaminsC and E might help ward off age-related visionproblems such as macular degenerationand cataracts, studies show. Regularly eating these foods can help lead to good eye health: *.Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collards *.Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish *.Eggs, nuts, beans, and other non-meat protein sources *.Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices Eating a well- balanced dietalso helps you maintain a healthy weight, which makes you less likely to get obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Diabetesis the leading cause of blindness in adults. 2. Quit Smoking Smokingmakes you more likely to get cataracts, optic nerve damage, and macular degeneration. If you've tried to quit smokingbefore and started smokingagain, keep trying. The more times you try to quit smoking, the more likely you are to succeed. 3. Wear Sunglasses The right kind of sunglasseswill help protect your eyesfrom the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much UV exposure makes you more likely to get cataractsand macular degeneration. Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound lenses help protect your eyes from the side. Polarized lenses reduce glare when driving. If you wear contact lenses, some offer UV protection. It's still a good idea to wear sunglasses for more protection, though. 4. Use Safety Eyewear If you work with hazardous or airborne materials on the job or at home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles every time. Certain sports such as ice hockey, racquetball, and lacrosse can also lead to eye injury. Wear eye protection (such as helmets with protective face masks or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses) to shield your eyes. 5. Look Away From the Computer Screen Staring at a computer screen for too long can cause: *.Eyestrain *.Blurry vision *.Trouble focusing at a distance *. Dry eyes *. Headaches *.Neck, back, and shoulder pain Taking the following steps to protect your eyes: *.Make sure your glasses or contact lens prescription is up-to-date and adequate for computer use. *.Some people may need glasses to help with contrast, glare, and eye strain when using a computer. *.Position your computer so that your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. This allows you to look slightly down at the screen. *.Try to avoid glare on your computer from windows and lights. Use an anti-glare screen if needed. *.Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position it so that your feet are flat on the floor. *.If your eyes are dry, blink more. *.Every 20 minutes, rest your eyes by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds. At least every 2 hours, get up and take a 15-minute break. http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/good-eyesight