1. Schedule eye exams for your whole family. A comprehensive eye exam can detect serious problems, like diabetes, before you even know they exist.
2. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays, which can be dangerous even on cloudy days.
3. Rest your eyes once every 20 minutes for 20 seconds while working at a computer or using a digital device, to help prevent eye strain.
4. If you smoke, quit! Smoking increases your risk of cataracts and sight-threatening eye diseases.
5. Be active. Regular exercise can delay the onset of age-related macular degeneration (the leading cause of permanent vision loss later in life)
6. Wear safety goggles during sports and any activities that pose a risk for your eyes. An estimated 2.4 million eye injuries will occur in 2014 and 90% of them can be avoided with protective eyewear.
7. Eat your greens. A diet rich in fruits, leafy greens and omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce your risk of dry eyes, macular degeneration, glaucoma and more.
8. Drink lots of water. Without enough water, you can’t produce enough tears to keep your eyes moist and nourished.