The world is a very beautiful place. And you will get to see more when you have good healthy eyes. Listed below are top ways in taking care of your eyes:

Have your eyes checked.
Vision problems, when left untreated may progress to a more serious case. In case you feel there is something wrong with your eyes, seeing an ophthalmologist might be of help. Wearing contact lenses or glasses that are lower than the prescribed correctional range cause vision problems and severe headaches. Visiting your doctor at least once every six months is highly recommended.

Wear sunglasses.
UV rays can harm your eyes as much as they hurt your skin. Overexposure can increase chances of getting eye ailments such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygia, little bumps on the whites of the eyes. Dark glasses usually offer more protection against bright sunlight. To maximize its purpose, when buying sunglasses, it is advisable to choose lenses that cover the whole eye area down to the cheek

Choose what you eat.
A good diet helps maintain healthy eyes. Vitamins C, A and E, folic acid, selenium and zinc are definitely beneficial for the health of your eyes. Experienced ophthalmologist and many health experts recommend fresh green vegetables to improve eye sight. Aside from carrots (rich in beta-carotene), add spinach, collard greens and kale in your usual diet. They are rich in anti-oxidants, properties that help in keeping your eyes healthy.

Have adequate light when reading.
Pupils open wider when you are in the dark. Reading in a poorly lit room can cause eyestrain, but light that is too bright can do as much damage. Reading at a suitable distance also reduces eyestrain.

Don’t rub your eyes.
If your eyes get itchy, don’t rub them. Instead blink your eyelids, several times, faster than the usual. Rubbing your eyes produces friction that might damage your sclera.

Give your eyes a break.
Have at leas eight hours sleep and take quick naps during working breaks. This will allow your eyes to rest and recharge. Long hours spent staring at computers can lead to eyestrain, dry eyes, and blurred vision. This is because people blink about 25% less often then usual while working at the computer, causing eye dryness. Ideally, your screen monitor should be 5 to 9 inches below eye level. This brings your lids downward, maintaining the healthiest blink rate, says Susan Resnick, an optometrist in New York City. It is also advisable to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds for every 20 minutes spent in front of the screen. This is to help you maintain your eyes’ focusing system.

Avoid smoking.
There are more than 4,000 harmful chemicals present in a single stick of cigarette. Habitual smokers are believed to be four times more at risk for cataract and blindness because they are more prone to having age-related macular degeneration than those who have never smoked. Age-related macular degeneration is a severe and progressive condition that results in loss of central vision.

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