1. See your eye doctor regularly: This might seem obvious, but comprehensive eye exams can detect problems early on, especially age-related ones like glaucoma or macular degeneration. Aim for yearly checkups or as advised by your doctor.
2. Embrace the 20-20-20 rule: Fight digital eye strain with regular breaks. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to relax your focusing muscles and reduce dryness.
3. Fuel your eyes with the right diet: Load up on leafy greens, colorful fruits, and omega-3 rich fish like salmon for essential nutrients like lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins A, C, and E, all linked to good eye health.
4. Shield your eyes from the sun: Ultraviolet (UV) rays damage your eyes just like your skin. Wear sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays year-round, even on cloudy days.
5. Quit smoking and limit alcohol: Smoking restricts blood flow to the eyes, increasing the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Excessive alcohol consumption can also affect vision and eye health.
6. Practice good eye hygiene: Wash your hands before touching your eyes, and clean your contact lenses properly according to your doctor's instructions. This helps prevent infections and irritation.
7. Adjust your screen settings: Reduce brightness and blue light emission on your electronic devices. Consider using screen filters or night modes to minimize eye strain during extended screen time.
8. Get enough sleep: When you're sleep-deprived, your eyes can become dry, itchy, and red. Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night to keep your eyes refreshed and healthy.