A regular eye exam is the best way to protect your eyesight – and an easy precaution to take. Many sight-threatening diseases can be cured or slowed if caught early enough.
How Important is Nutrition to Eye Health?
Research indicates proper nutrition is critical to maintaining and preserving eye health for both men and women. As part of a healthy diet, choose foods rich in antioxidants, like vitamins A and C; foods like leafy, green vegetables; and fish. Many foods – especially fish – contain 
essential omega-3 fatty acids that are important to the health of the macula, the part of the eye responsible for central vision.
An inadequate intake of antioxidants and consumption of alcohol and saturated fats may create free-radical reactions that can harm the macula. High-fat diets can also cause deposits that constrict blood flow in the arteries. The eyes are especially sensitive to this, given the small size of the blood vessels that feed them.
What About Eye Vitamins?
Dietary studies have shown the importance of nutrition in maintaining eye health. Many people are not getting high levels of many important eye nutrients through diet alone.
Don't Smoke
Smoking exposes your eyes to high levels of oxidative stress. While the connection to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has not been clearly identified, it is known that smoking increases your risk of developing AMD.
Exercise
Exercise improves blood circulation, which improves oxygen levels to the eyes and helps remove toxins.
Wear Sunglasses
Being outdoors in the sun can feel wonderful – but it can be tough on your eyes. Fortunately, there's an easy solution: sunglasses. Be sure to choose a pair that can block harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Also, a hat with a brim will reduce the amount of UV radiation slipping around the side of your sunglasses.
Computer Use
Computer images are created from thousands of tiny dots – so there is no distinct image for your eye to focus on. You have to focus and refocus to keep the images sharp – and after two hours you can end up with the same kind of repetitive stress in your eye muscles that the keyboard causes in your wrists. You can reduce the impact of computer eyestrain by following a few simple rules:
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Keep your computer screen within 40 -50cm of your eyes
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Keep the top of your computer screen slightly below eye level
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Minimise the distance between your computer screen and any documents you need to reference while working
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Adjust lighting to minimise glare on the screen
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Blink frequently
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Take a break every 15 minutes to focus on a distant object
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Use drops to soothe irritated, dry eyes
Eye Injuries
If your eye is injured, it is tempting to think that you can just flush it out with some cold water and it will be fine. However, it is not easy to judge the extent or severity of any eye injury, so you should always get immediate, professional medical attention. It is the best way to safeguard your vision. Here are some symptoms that may signal serious eye injury:
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Obvious eye pain or vision problems
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Cut or torn eyelid
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One eye that does not move as completely as the other
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One eye that protrudes more than the other
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Abnormal pupil size or shape
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Blood in the white of the eye
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Something embedded in the eye
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Something under the eyelid that cannot be easily removed