Healthy Eyes

Don't take your eyes for granted. Take these easy steps to keep them healthy and looking fabulous.

1. Eat Well

Good eye health starts with the food on your plate. Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E might help ward off age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts.

To get them, fill your plate with:

• Green leafy vegetables like spinach,

• kale, and cabbage

• Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish

• Eggs, nuts, beans, and other

• nonmeat protein sources

• Oranges and other citrus fruits or

• juices

• Oysters and pork

A well-balanced diet also helps you stay at a healthy weight which in turn lowers the risk of obesity and diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

2. Wear Sunglasses

The right pair of shades will help protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much UV exposure boosts your chances of cataracts and macular degeneration. Choose a pair that blocks 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound lenses help protect your eyes from the side. Polarized lenses reduce glare while you drive, but don’t necessarily

offer added protection.

If you wear contact lenses, it’s still a good idea to wear sunglasses.

3. Look away from the Screen

Staring at a computer or phone screen for too long can cause: eyestrain, blurred vision, dry eyes and headaches as well as neck, back and shoulder pain.

To protect your eyes, make sure your glasses or contacts prescription is up to date and suitable for looking at a screen. It’s possible to get occupational glasses prescribed especially for use with screens.

Rest your eyes every 20 minutes. Look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Get up at least every 2 hours and take a 15-minute break.

4. Cucumber for Tired Eyes

Cucumber juice contains powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as vitamin C, which can soothe tired skin and eyes.

To use, cut two cucumber slices about a half-inch thick. Lie down, and apply a slice to each eyelid for 15 minutes to help refresh your eyes and skin.

5. Get a good night's sleep

If you aren’t getting adequate sleep, sooner or later your eyes will likely show signs of fatigue and sleep deprivation. Aim to get to bed early enough to allow yourself to get a minimum of 7 to 9 hours.

To help you sleep well and to prevent eye problems, you may want to put your electronic devices away well before bedtime since exposure to artificial light close to bedtime can negatively affect your eye health and natural sleep cycle.

6. Try an Eye Massage

A simple massage around your eyes can help improve lymph drainage and boost

circulation. This can ease inflammation and also reduce the appearance of dark circles

under your eyes.

Use the fingertips of your index and middle fingers to gently tap in a circle around your

eyes. This can help increase blood flow to the area. Start along your eyebrows, then

move your fingertips outward to the edge of your eyes, and down along the top of

your cheekbones, moving inward toward the bridge of your nose.

Circle your eyes three times with your fingertips. Then, using your middle fingers,

press upward on either side of your nose, right below your brow bone.

Next, using your middle fingers, press inward toward your nose, next to your tear

ducts.

Be careful not to pull or drag your skin while you’re moving your fingertips around

your eye area. Repeat this massage for 30 seconds or more to wake up the area

around your eye.