For many of us, our eyes begin to deteriorate as we age. It is an unfortunate reality, but can anything be done to counteract that? As a matter of fact, there are several things one can do to improve eye health without necessarily resorting to surgical measures. First, as with many health quandaries, eating a balanced diet can benefit your eyes. “Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E might help ward off age-related vision problems.” Foods like green leafy vegetables, salmon, tuna, eggs, nuts, beans, citrus, oysters, and pork can all give your diet a boost (although you should check with your doctor before starting any new dietary plan).

A few other lifestyle changes could aid your eye health. Smoking can cause macular degeneration and damage to your optic nerve—turns out when the smoke is in your eyes, you can have bigger problems than a heart that is on fire! Wearing sunglasses can also help protect your eyes from UV rays that can cause various ocular problems and damage your sight. However, perhaps one of the biggest threats to your eyesight is what you’re looking at right now—your computer screen! Extended gaze at a screen can cause a variety of eye health issues, but for many of us, computers are unavoidable. “To protect your eyes, make sure your glasses or contacts prescription is up to date and good for looking at a computer screen. If your eye strain won’t go away, [you can] talk to your doctor about computer glasses.” Additionally, “try to avoid glare from windows and lights. Use an anti-glare screen if needed.” You should also rest your eyes every 20 minutes. “Look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Get up at least every two hours and take a 15-minute break.”[1]

These are just a few at-home tips to try to maintain your eye health, but talk to your physician if you feel concerned about your eyes. Aging smarter means staying ahead of the curve with your health—do not wait until there is a problem to make a positive change!

[1] “6 Tips for Eye Health and Maintaining Good Eyesight.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/eye-health/good-eyesight#1.