8 Ways to Help Protect Your Vision Right Now

As you get older, your risk for some eye diseases may increase. However, there are steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy – and it starts with taking care of your overall health. The National Eye Institute, in honor of Healthy Vision Month, offers eight tips to help protect your vision.

First, find an eye doctor you trust. Many eye diseases don’t have early symptoms, so an eye doctor can help you stay on top of your eye health. Ask friends and family for recommendations or check with your health insurance plan to find eye doctors near you.

Second, ask how often you need a dilated eye exam. This is the single best thing you can do for your eye health, as it is the only way to find eye diseases early when they are easier to treat. Your eye doctor will decide how often you need an exam based on your risk.

Third, add more movement to your day. Physical activity can lower your risk for health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure that can affect your vision. Try walking while on the phone, doing push-ups during TV time, or dancing while doing chores.

Fourth, get your family talking about eye health history. Some eye diseases, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, can run in families. Ask relatives about eye problems in your family and share that information with your eye doctor.

Fifth, step up your healthy eating game. Eating healthy foods helps prevent conditions that put you at risk for eye problems. Add dark, leafy greens like spinach and kale, and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon or tuna to your diet.

Sixth, make a habit of wearing sunglasses even on cloudy days. The sun’s UV rays can harm your eyes, but sunglasses that block 99-100% of UVA and UVB radiation can lower your risk for cataracts.

Seventh, stay on top of long-term health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which can increase your risk for eye diseases like glaucoma. Ask your doctor about steps to manage these conditions.

Eighth, if you smoke, make a plan to quit. Quitting smoking can lower your risk for eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts. It’s hard but possible with a plan.

Test your eye health knowledge with a quick quiz and find more vision resources at nei.nih.gov/hvm.