Taking care of your eyes and getting regular examinations can prevent many of the leading causes of blindness.

Every year, thousands of Americans injure their eyes or are diagnosed with eye diseases that cause blindness. The National Eye Institute recommends the following tips for preserving and making the most of your vision.

• Have regular, comprehensive, dilated eye exams. Many serious eye diseases—including glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration—often have no warning signs. You may think your vision is fine, but you may not be seeing as well as you could with glasses or contact lenses. An eye care professional can tell for sure.
• Eat a healthy diet. Consuming ample fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens, can help keep your eyes healthy. Research has also shown your eyes benefit when you eat salmon and other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk of developing diabetes and other conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma.
• Wear protective eyewear. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to protect the eyes for certain activities. Wear protective eyewear when playing racquet sports and baseball, riding motorcycles and bicycles, doing household chores such mowing the lawn, or using power tools.
• Quit smoking. Studies indicate smoking increases the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and optic nerve damage.
• Wear sunglasses. Sunglasses protect the eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing them, choose those that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation.
• Clean your hands and contact lenses properly. Doing so will reduce your risk for infection.

Finally, knowing your family’s eye health history and sharing it with your eye doctor can help him or her determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease.

For more information, visit the National Eye Institute at www.nei.nih.gov.

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