Guidelines for Healthy Eyes
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet
- Exercise regularly (consult a doctor before beginning any exercise program)
- Avoid harmful substances like cigarettes, excessive amounts of alcohol and recreational drugs
- Arrange for regular eye exams
- Wear sunglasses outdoors
- Wear proper corrective lenses
- Give tired eyes a break
Many of the things that affect the health of your body overall also affect the health of your eyes. Smoking contributes to the development of cataracts and retinal diseases, which can lead to blindness. Smokers are also less likely to benefit from treatment for retinal disease. Alcohol, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high blood cholesterol are also risk factors for developing some eye conditions (cataracts, macular degeneration, etc.).
You should also avoid bright sunlight and wear sunglasses outdoors. Too much exposure to bright sunlight can damage the lens and retina of eyes. Sunglasses should block out ultraviolet A and B radiation.
If you wear contact lenses, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning. If contact lenses are used improperly, infections can occur and serious damage can be done to your eyes.
