National Eye Exam Month – Tips to Keeping Your Eyes Healthy

August is National Eye Exam Month and there is a lot you can do to help keep your eyes healthy and protect your vision in between your yearly exams. Of course, the first step is getting that exam!

Get a dilated eye exam every year. It’s simple and painless and it’s the single best thing you can do for your eye health. Even if your vision seems fine and your eyes feel healthy, there could be an underlying issue you aren’t aware of yet. A dilated eye exam is the only way to check for many eye diseases and catch them early on. Get the facts about dilated eye exams

Find out if you are at risk for eye diseases. As we get older, our risk for some eye diseases increases. You may be at a higher risk for some diseases if you are:

• Overweight or obese
• Have a family history of eye disease
• Are African American, Hispanic, or Native American

Other health conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure, can also increase your risk of some eye diseases. For example, people with diabetes are at risk for diabetic retinopathy — an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness.

Take care of your health

Protecting your overall health can go a long way toward keeping your eyes healthy! It’s important to make healthy choices and take good care of yourself.

Keep in mind that healthy habits like eating well and being active can lower your risk for diseases and conditions that can lead to eye or vision problems, like diabetes or high blood pressure. Follow these tips for healthy vision:

• Eat healthy foods. Be sure to have plenty of dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens. Eating fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids — like salmon, tuna, and halibut — is good for your eyes, too.
• Get active. Being physically active helps you stay healthy. It can also lower your risk of health conditions that can cause eye health or vision problems — like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
• Quit smoking. Smoking isn’t just bad for your lungs — it can hurt your eyes, too! Smoking increases your risk of diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts — and it can harm the optic nerve. If you’re ready to quit, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for free support. You can also check out the resources on Smokefree.gov

Protect your eyes

You can take some simple steps every day to keep your eyes healthy.

• Wear sunglasses. Protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses — even on cloudy days! Be sure to look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation.
• Wear protective eyewear. Safety glasses and goggles are designed to protect your eyes during certain activities, like playing sports, doing construction work, or doing home repairs. You can buy them from most eye care providers and some sporting goods stores. 
• Give your eyes a rest. Looking at a computer for a long time can tire out your eyes. Rest your eyes by taking a break every 20 minutes to look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• If you wear contacts, take steps to prevent eye infections. Always wash your hands before you put your contact lenses in or take them out. Be sure to disinfect your contact lenses and replace them regularly. 

Eye health and eye safety are huge factors in our quality of life, no matter the age. Protect your eyesight by practicing good eye care and schedule regular eye checks – if you are between 40 and 65, that’s every 2-4 years; if you’re 65+, every 1-2 years is a must.