5 Vision-Saving Tips for National Save Your Vision Month

March is National Save Your Vision Month! In addition to the most important step — routine eye exams — here are 5 essential ways to help keep your eyes healthy and strong all year long.

5 Vision-Saving Tips

1. Maintain a Healthy Diet

A balanced diet filled with all the vitamins and nutrients you need helps keep your body and eyes healthy. Eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins A, B, C, and E can protect your eye health and help save your vision from sight-threatening eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

2. Limit Screen Time

Digital eye strain (also called computer vision syndrome) affects an estimated 70% of adults. Too much screen time can result in dry, red, irritated eyes, blurry vision, headaches, and neck and back pain. Practice the 20-20-20 rule — every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for a minimum of 20 seconds.

3. Use Protective Eyewear

Wear protective eyewear for all activities that pose an eye health risk — from sports and water gun fights to home-improvement projects that involve small particles flying into your eye. Protective eyewear can truly save your vision.

4. Wear Sunglasses All Year Round

Sunglasses shield your eyes from the sun's harmful UV rays, which can damage your vision and lead to serious eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration. Make sure they offer 100% UV protection. UV rays can penetrate through clouds and reflect off snow, doubling your exposure.

5. Quit Smoking

Smoking is not only dangerous for your overall health, it increases your risk for sight-threatening eye diseases like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Interested in learning more? Contact St. Clairsville Eyecare in St. Clairsville today to schedule an appointment. Call (740) 695-0444.