Taking care of your vision should be a priority, just like eating healthy and being physically active. Healthy vision can help keep you safe when you are driving, while at work, home or school, participating in sports, or taking part in recreational activities.
The following are some tips to help you protect your vision:
- Get regular comprehensive dilated eye exams as recommended by your eye care provider.
- Know your family’s eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition, because many are hereditary.
- Eat right to protect your sight, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, albacore tuna, trout, and halibut.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home such as painting, yard work, and home repairs.
- Quit smoking or never start.
- Wear sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation.
- Clean your hands prior to taking out contacts and be sure to cleanse your contact lenses properly to avoid the risk of infection.
- Practice workplace eye safety.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/Features/HealthyVision.
This article was courtesy the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
