Maintaining eye health is something too many of us don’t give much thought to. We often only think of carrots being associated with our eyes, but there are several ways we can keep our eyes safe and healthy. Here are just a few:
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Eat right
Eating a well-balanced diet helps you maintain a healthy weight, which makes you less likely to get obesity-related diseases like type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults and regularly eating these foods can help lead to good eye health:
- Green, leafy vegetables
- Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
- Eggs, nuts, and beans
- Oranges and other citrus fruits
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Wear sunglasses
Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays in order to get the most protection. Wraparound shades are even better. A hat with a brim can also help. Shading your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays is what you should be aiming for.
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Wear safety glasses
If you work around hazardous or airborne materials, whether on the job or at home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles. Certain sports can also lead to eye injury if the ball, puck, stick, bat, or racket hits your eyes. Many times people think they can avoid eye injuries by merely squinting, but accidents and unexpected things still happen. Be safe rather than sorry.
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Don’t smoke
Smoking makes you more likely to get cataracts, suffer from optic nerve damage, and can lead to macular degeneration. Quitting smoking is difficult, but your doctor may be able to help.
Maintaining Eye Health is Important
Your eyes allow you to go about your daily life more easily. We often take our eyesight for granted, but by taking care of our eyes now, we’ll be able to see well into the future.