Good health, protecting your eyes, and regular eye exams are important to maintaining good vision.

You can reduce your risk for eye disease, injury, and vision loss if you:

• Avoid smoking. This may reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy (if you are a diabetic).
  
  
• Wear protective eyewear at work and at home where eye hazards exist.
  
  
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Good nutrition will help you keep healthy and also keep your eyes healthy. Maintain a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, low in saturated and trans fats, and moderate in salt and sugar.
  
  
• Exercise regularly. Staying active reduces your risk for health problems that can lead to eye disease such as high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, and diabetes.
  
  
• Control high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases your risk for glaucoma.
  
  
• Protect your eyes from the sun. When outdoors, wear a hat with a broad brim and sunglasses rated to absorb 99-100% of both UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun. UV rays may lead to macular degeneration and cataracts in later life. They can also burn your corneas, a condition called photokeratitis that causes temporary vision loss.
  
  
• Get regular eye exams. Get fitted with the vision-correcting lenses as needed for the best vision possible to avoid accidents at work, home and while driving because of poor vision. Also, early detection and treatment of eye disease can help protect your vision and limit vision loss. Check with your eye care professional on the type of exam that is best for you and how often you need to get your eyes checked.

Sources: “Making Vision a Health Priority,” National Eye Institute, www.healthyvision2010.org and “Healthy Living, Healthy Vision,” Prevent Blindness America®, www.preventblindness.org. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, www.smallstep.gov.