Making Eye Health a Priority

The National Institute of Health (NIH) encourages everyone to make their eye health a priority to protect their vision for a lifetime. There are a number of things you can do, but a comprehensive dilated eye exam is a great place to start. You doctor will be able to detect any vision problems and determine if you need contacts or glasses.

At Massachusetts Eye Associates, we are dedicated to helping you achieve the best vision possible. Below are tips on how you can keep your eyes healthy.

10 ways you can help protect your vision

1. Get regular eye exams. They are important in detecting any eye diseases and other problems that may require glasses or contacts.
2. Learn your family’s eye health history. Eye diseases can be hereditary. If you or a family member close to you has an eye disease (or even diabetes), be sure to speak with your doctor.
3. Eat to enhance your vision. There are a number of foods that can enhance your vision. Carrots, pumpkin, and fish with Omega-3 are all great for your eye health.
4. Maintain a healthy weight and avoid smoking. A healthy lifestyle will count towards healthy eyes as well.
5. Wear protective glasses when doing any outdoor work. Equipment such as leaf blowers, mowers, hedge trimmers, etc., can cause debris to blow into your eye and result in injury or irritation.
6. Wear sunglasses with UV protection. Just like your skin, your eyes need protection from the sun too. Over time, UV rays can contribute to or cause specific eye problems.
7. Wash your hands before touching your contact lenses. With a risk of infection, it’s important to make sure everything is clean before putting the lens in your eye.
8. Slow down on screen time. If you work in an office, this may be difficult, but there are things you can do to maintain your eye health at work, such as the 20/20/20 rule.
9. Pay attention to dry eyes, and use artificial tears if needed. Dry eyes can be chronic, so it’s important to understand the symptoms and how to gain relief.
10. Understand and invest in vision insurance. Having all the knowledge possible allows you to make a solid choice in electing your insurance coverage.

If you are looking for additional information, please check out our resources page.