Health Articles

As a suburban Optometrist performing eye exams every day, you see a lot of normal healthy eyes. And then someone will come along that shakes you up a bit and reminds us all of the value of regular checkups.

Case 1: A 46 year old lady came in to have her children’s eyes tested. After a little persuasion, she had her eyes examined too. She wasn’t going to because she felt fine, nothing was bothering her about her vision and gee, life is busy! It had been three years since her last eye examination with me.

The glasses examination (refraction) was all very straight forward. She did have great vision on the letter chart. However, when I looked inside her eyes I noticed a classic pattern on her retinas that indicates loss of neural tissue.

We did a computerised Visual Field Analysis to confirm that she has already lost up to 15% of her peripheral vision to Glaucoma. Remember that she felt fine and hadn’t noticed anything wrong. Glaucoma is insidious in this way. You have to lose a lot of vision before you can tell anything is out of the ordinary.

An eye exam will detect these changes much earlier and help you to save your vision. Glaucoma is treatable, loss of vision is preventable.

Case 2: A 78 year old woman was brought in by her daughter for an eye exam after breaking her glasses. No-one was quite sure when her last checkup was and she insisted the old glasses were fine, they just needed fixing.

On covering her right eye, she kept moving her head away from the occluder paddle to see around it. She had no vision in her right eye and she had not noticed.

How does that happen? Most people usually use both eyes together and wouldn’t even think to check their vision in each eye separately. She had advanced cataract in the right eye and a medium level in the left eye. Fixing her glasses was unfortunately not going to help anything!

I referred her for cataract surgery to a local Ophthalmologist and now she has her vision back. She can read, watch tv and do the crosswords. What a difference! Why go blind when it can be so easily helped?

Case 3: A 42 year old man came in for a checkup and to get some reading glasses for the first time to help with seeing the fine print and on the computer.

During the examination, I noticed an interesting colored lump at the far edge of his iris (colored part of the eye). With a sinking feeling, the thought in my head was “Melanoma” Oh no.

Melanoma is a very active type of skin cancer that you can also get within the eye, at the front or at the back on the retina. As these lesions are usually detected quite late, it often means the eye needs to be removed.

I referred him for an ultrasound and photography of the lesion. We were both so pleased when it came back that it was only a mole. Just like moles on the skin, they require monitoring for changes to detect it quickly if it does turn cancerous. He now has annual eye exams to “keep an eye on it” and to keep his eye.

In the world of the computer chip, the way we function at work, how we enjoy ourselves in our leisure time, and even how we socialize is greatly dictated by technological resources. Over the last few decades it has been a relatively slow integration into our lives, and now it has reached the point where often a day without having to view a computer monitor or a hand held device is becoming quite rare.

Computer monitor eye strain may lead to a strain on the eyes which subsequently can result in blurry vision, dry eye syndrome, a development of nearsightedness, tiredness, and pain in the neck and shoulders. Where computers are used very frequently (and without proper care) it is suspected that heavy computer work can lead to glaucoma.

It goes without saying that ensuring you have prescription glasses, that your glasses frames fit you well and you feel comfortable in them, and that the supplier of your glasses is a respected organization is an absolute necessity. But there are other exercises and adaptations you can carry out to make sure you are looking after your eyes.

Tone down the bright lighting

Often eye strain is caused when there is too much light surrounding the computer area. Try to adjust lighting in the work place to only about half of the lights used in most offices. An anti-glare screen can help in reducing the glare from walls and other gloss painted surfaces.

Prescription glasses for the computer

When visiting your optician ensure you let him know the time spent at a computer monitor. As well as adapting glasses for reading they can also be adjusted to take into account the distance you sit from the monitor.

Monitor Image Quality

Whether you are using your computer as a hobby or all day at work, it is worth the investment of a high-quality monitor with a good image resolution. Sharper edges will mean better clarity and less eye strain.

Frequent Breaks

If you are working for intensive periods at your computer (or gaming!) medical professionals advise you need to give yourself a break at least once every 1.5 hours for 10 minutes to prevent eye strain.

Eye Exercises

• This may sound obvious but remember to blink!
• Whether wearing glasses or not, when you are viewing a computer screen you blink less (which leads to dry eye problems).
• Exercise your eyes by rolling them clockwise and anticlockwise. This is helps the muscles in the eyes.
• In the same way take time to look at objects in the far distance. This enables the eyes to focus on varied distances.
• An exercise called “Palming” soothes the eyes. To do this rub your hands together vigorously and then cup them over your eyes. This can be very relaxing.

Correct Adjustments

Ensure the monitor is at the correct height and distance form your eyes. The ideal viewing distance is 20-24 inches. The correct viewing angle from the screen center is 10 to 20 degrees below eye level.

If you have hyperopia, myopia or astigmatism and then you develop presbyopia, then you would most probably need bifocal reading glasses. If you don’t understand what the words mean it is simply a condition where the eyes not only has difficulty in focusing on distant objects but has trouble focusing on nearby objects as well.

There are four kinds of bifocal lenses to choose from.

The choice is really yours on which of the designs are more comfortable for your eyes. All of these designs are functional and succeed in correcting the blurring of vision. The lenses which has a round segment in the lower area of the lens The semicircular segment which looks like a big letter D in the lower half of the lens The rectangular section placed on the lower half of the lens, and The distinct division of the lens into an upper half and a lower half. These four types make the distinctive divisions of the lenses and are not aesthetically attractive to most people. It is good that these four types can be integrated into progressive reading glasses where the distinct lines disappear and only one solid lens can be seen. These bifocal reading lenses could also be tinted to fit the frames of favourite sunglasses and become reading sunglasses. However, this can be more expensive than the regular ones. The choice of the type of bifocal reading glasses is for you to decide on as no matter what the decision may be, the function will remain the same. Only thing is, progressives are more expensive and the expense can increase if you have them tinted for sunglasses purposes. But if it means that you can drive at ease and go to the beach in comfort, then the cost could be ignored. You can get these bifocal reading glasses from your optician or optometrist, but do not think that if you go to a pharmacy and just pick up a readymade pair that it would function in the same way.

Remember that no two people are exactly alike and that is the same when it comes to reading glasses. Each eye has a distinction and careful measurements and calculations are needed to be made so that the lenses are custom made to fit your eyes. If you insist on getting the OTC type there may be risks like dizziness and nausea when you use them. That is caused by the measurements not fitting those of your eyes.

Surely, you must have already heard about eye exercises to improve vision. These things are getting a lot of attention nowadays that even men and women who have been using glasses and contact lenses are considering trying these methods. It has been said that if you want to know how to bring back your 20/20 vision, you should try vision improvement exercises.

Changing Your Mindset About Alternative Treatments These methods have been branded as one of the most effective means to improve your eyesight naturally. If you find this hard to believe, it is perfectly understandable because after all, we have become so used to relying on eyeglasses and contact lenses. But if you think about it, there are tens of thousands of people wearing eyeglasses for such a long time and still they were not able to get back their 20/20 vision.

Find Out What’s Causing the Problem Before trying out eye exercises to improve vision, you need to understand the root cause of the problem. What is causing your vision problems anyway? There are a few things that could be blamed for it.

One is spending a lot of time in front of your TV or computer monitor. When you are always working on your PC or watching TV, then this can lead to eyestrain. This explains why there are more people today wearing glasses than 10 or 20 years ago. The kind of lifestyle we have now makes us susceptible to eye problems. Know the Possible Solutions Do you want to know how to bring back your 20/20 vision? Well one of the first things people normally do upon realizing that they are getting migraines and blurred eyesight would be to go to a specialist and get a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. But while these may help put an end to the painful migraines and dizziness, these are only band-aid solutions. In a way, they are quick fixes but are not permanent solutions. Decide on the Best Option If you really want to restore back your vision the way it used to, then you should consider trying methods to improve your eyesight naturally.

One of the most popular methods is the Bates Method. This was formulated by Dr. William H. Bates, and initially designed for school children. The Bates Method comprises of eye exercises to improve vision and one example is the Palming technique. To perform this, you need to rub both palms together for a minute or two. Then put your palms over your eyes and make sure no light enters inside. Let your palms stay for 3 minutes. Repeat this process several times during the day to help keep the eyes healthy and also to prevent deterioration.

At one point or another, we have all probably heard the term vision therapy or vision correction therapy, but what do they mean and is there a way that I might be able to benefit from them?

I’ll first start by describing what vision correction therapy is not:

• A “snake oil” treatment available for sale on the internet
• The taking of specialized vitamin treatments formulated specifically for the eyes
• The use of “pinhole” eyeglasses to see better
• The manipulation of the eye with techniques like palming, floating, yo-yo’ing, sunning, or any other kind of massage technique
• Exercises to relax the eye

If you have done any research on the internet regarding natural vision correction programs, you have no doubt seen one or all of these terms.

Vision correction therapy can be thought of in several ways, but perhaps most importantly it requires direct interaction with a licensed practitioner. There are many different kinds of eye doctors, most of which are licensed as optometrists with the symbol “O.D.” after their name. These are people who have completed a formal (and rigorous) course of study allowing them to detect eye diseases, measure refractive errors of all types, and prescribe lenses. Most optometrists are not specifically trained to treat blurry vision with methods other than prescribing lenses to see better, nor have most eye doctors received any specialized training in the specialized field of vision correction therapy.

There is another, smaller field of licensed optometrists who have completed further certifications in behavioral and natural therapeutic approaches to refractive eye problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and presbyopia (i.e., hardening of the crystalline lens of the eye which makes it difficult to see up-close as we age). These eye doctors are termed Behavioral Optometrists and practice vision therapy in their clinic. They see patients, diagnose visual disorders, and treat those disorders in their clinic using combinations of therapies, nutritional supplements, lenses (usually very different from your normal prescription), and various other tools which specifically target your particular visual disorder.

Vision correction therapy is not any one technique to improve visual performance, but rather a specific blending of therapies designed to synergistically target your vision problem.

This brings me to the other side of vision correction therapy…the different levels of involvement with an eye doctor. When you visit a behavioral optometrist, he or she will diagnose your visual problem(s) and consult with you to prescribe a set of alternative vision correction therapies. You really have no say in the diagnosis or prescription, although you can certainly choose not to follow it (or pay for it). However, do you really need the eye doctor to tell you that you are nearsighted? Yes and No. Knowing you are nearsighted and knowing how nearsighted you are can be two completely different questions. Of course, only a licensed optometrist can measure your degree of nearsightedness accurately. However, you can get a very close approximation simply by testing your vision with an eye chart and some level of knowledge about how to interpret your results.

Vision correction therapy under your own guidance is not possible, because true vision correction therapy requires the interaction with your behavioral optometrist. However, using a system of eye exercises on your own is called vision training, or vision correction training. In many cases, it can be incredibly helpful to your overall therapy by including vision correction training in-between your weekly or monthly sessions.

Semantics aside, is vision correction therapy and/or vision correction training worth pursuing? Well, if vision correction therapy did not work, how could there be so many successful licensed behavioral optometrists in the industry? And if the techniques that behavioral optometrists use work, how could you, as a person who knows how to use them, not be effective in your own vision correction training? The only difference is that you are the one diagnosing your vision problem (probably after finding out that you are nearsighted after your eye checkup), and you are the one who decides which training techniques to use.

There are many great companies on the internet who sell effective vision correction training programs with products that range the price spectrum. The one thing to keep in mind in this business is that price does not always equal quality!

When searching for a good vision training program:

• Look for a company that has been in business for at least 5 years. If they have survived this long, their product is most likely legitimate
• Find a company that has the endorsement of a licensed optometrist
  They should have plenty of customer endorsements, both for their product and for their customer service satisfaction
• Be very cautious if they are not a credit card merchant and have no customer support information

Look for a product guarantee or refund policy, a privacy policy, and disclaimer. A company that does not have a disclaimer for a training program that depends on your efforts should be a red flag.

Many of us need glasses just for reading and that means that many of us own a pair of reading glasses. Quite often you think you know someone really well only to find them pull out a pair of glasses and put them on – perhaps after years of seemingly not needing them. Then the conversation always goes the same: ‘I never knew you wore glasses’, ‘they’re just for reading’. But then comes the time when you find yourself needing reading glasses, and then there are some difficulties involved that will take a little getting used to. The most obvious of these difficulties is the fact that it’s so easy to lose or damage reading glasses. In some ways in fact it could actually be argued that it’s easier to lose reading specs than it is to lose other ‘normal’ glasses. The reason for this is that the reading glasses are something that you won’t wear that often and as such won’t be ‘used’ to wearing. This then means that you will not find it a natural urge to put them in their case, and nor will you necessarily be as practiced in avoiding the foibles of a glasses wearer.

If you find yourself wearing reading glasses then, it’s highly important to make sure that you keep them safe and there are a few ways to do this. First and foremost you should make sure that you have a good case for your glasses. This is important as it will house your glasses and mean that they don’t get sat on or trodden on – wherever they are this will act as a protective shield and also help prevent your reading glasses from getting dirty. However a case for your glasses is no use whatsoever unless you use it and use it vigilantly. The problem here is that many people after using their reading specs will simply place them down on the arm of the chair or sofa or on the floor in front of them (not in the case) and what this does is to immediately put them in the line of fire and make them very easy to lose or break. Putting them on the arm of the sofa absent mindedly for example will mean they are likely to fall down the back or off the side.

As such, every time you take off your glasses you should put them in your glasses case (wherever possible). DO this enough and it will become a natural habit – as natural say as putting them down wherever you happen to be, and you can rest assured they will always be protected.

As one more added tip, it can be a good idea to try and find a glasses case for your reading glasses that is a bright garish color.

This way, when you come to look for it, you will have the distinct advantage of finding it sticks out like a sore thumb. Similarly getting brighter colored glasses can help this cause, and you should likewise choose a pair that is highly durable if you’re prone to accidents.

Refractive surgery is an operation that is performed on the eye and it is mostly done to correct the refractive defect. It can also be done to ensure that people get over their reliance on contact lenses and glasses. Some of the common refractive eye conditions that most people suffer from include myopia, which refers to nearsightedness. This condition is caused by a long eyeball that makes the eye to have too much focusing power. Another cause of myopia is an excessive curvature in the cornea and this ends up creating a steep surface. People with myopia will experience blurred images when focusing on objects that are at a distance. They can however see closer objects clearly.

Hyperopia is another refractive eye condition that refers to farsightedness. This means that the person lacks enough power to focus and therefore needs glasses or contact lenses to permit them see close range objects. This condition is caused by a short eyeball, which alters their power to focus. Another cause of hyperopia is less curvature in the cornea thus prompting images to fall behind the retina. Therefore, people with this condition will be able to focus clearly on distant objects while those closer to them will appear blurred.

The other refractive condition is astigmatism, which means that a person will not be able to have full focus on an object. This is brought about by the fact that the corneaS surface takes up an oval shape when ideally it is supposed to be spherical.

Presbyopia is yet another refractive condition that makes it hard for people to read. This condition mostly comes with advancement in age the cited ages being between 45 and 50. This is occasioned by the stiffness of the crystalline lens and this makes it hard to change shape. Refractive surgery is done to correct these conditions but one must meet the following qualifications. First, one must be 18 years or older and must have experienced stable vision before opting for refractive surgery. A personS eyes must be healthy meaning that they are free from corneal scars, retinal detachment, and other diseases that affect the eyes. Another qualification that a person must meet to undergo refractive surgery is to have a treatable eye problem.

Since refractive surgery is considered elective, a person must be willing to bear the cost that comes with it since many health insurances do not cater for it. Some of the refractive surgery options available include the photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), the LASIK (Laser in situ keratomileusis), the Excimer LASIK and the Radial Keratotomy. Refractive surgery is very beneficial to those who undergo it as it rules out the use of visual aids that are at times cumbersome. People in jobs such as firefighting, flying, and police departments are best suited for this procedure since they require visual acuity that discourages the use of visual aids. People with cosmetic reasons are also well covered by refractive surgery, as they may not want to wear glasses. Refractive surgery offers psychological relieve for those who feel handicapped out of restrictions presented by the visual aids they use.

How is your eyesight? It can depend on several factors, such as age, heredity and other conditions. Did you know there are things you can do to protect your eyesight? Here are some important resources and advice for eye care.

• Get regular eye exams.
  Most health insurance plans cover annual eye exams. Don’t overlook this important benefit. If you have diabetes or you’re over the age of 35, then you need at least one annual exam, and sometimes more.

• Wear shades regularly.
  Whenever you go outside, even if it’s cloudy or during the dead of winter, you need to wear sunglasses. It’s like sunscreen for your eyes.

• Get your vitamins.
  If you want to preserve your eyesight, it’s important to eat foods that are rich in Vitamin A. Some examples: Apricots, sweet potatoes and carrots, to name a few. It’s also good to consume Vitamin E-rich foods such as eggs and almonds. Don’t forget to get your Vitamin C, as well, such as citrus fruits. As well as berries containing black (blueberry, black currant, cherry) All of these will help keep your eyesight sharp.

• Lay off the sauce and the smokes.
  When you smoke cigarettes or drink excessively, your retinas suffer. Both have been linked to macular degeneration, which is irreversible, and can rob you of your eyesight.

• Keep your blood healthy.
  You always want to stay on top of your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. You must avoid hypertension at all costs. On top of all the many problems it causes, it can damage your ocular blood vessels.

• Find out your history.
  What’s your family history like? Are there any eye diseases in the family? How about diabetes or high blood pressure? Are you over 40 and African American?These are all risk factors for eye disorders. It’s important to know your family history, as it can play a definite role in your health. This is another reason why it’s so important to get regular exams. Tell your eye doctor about your family history.

• Get regular physicals.
  Make sure your general practitioner always checks you for high blood pressure and diabetes, as they can lead to serious eye problems, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, to name a few.

• Be aware of vision changes.
  There are some warning signs that can lead to vision problems. Floaters, hazy or double vision, swelling, frequent light flashes and eye swelling are all reasons for concern. If you’re experiencing trouble like this, see your eye doc immediately.

• Get more exercise.Regular exercise can actually reduce your risk of many eye problems, including macular degeneration. Take this important step to reduce your risk.

• Work carefully.It’s important to wear safety goggles when you’re on the job. Whether you work in a factory, or you’re simply tinkering in your workshop at home, make sure you always wear safety goggles.

• Play carefully.Are you involved in active sports?This is another reason to wear goggles. As your mother probably told you, certain leisure activities put you at risk for eye trouble. Don’t risk it. Always wear goggles when you exercise or engage in high-energy leisure activities.

• Adjust your computer monitor to reduce glare.Glare can cause major eye strain. If you stare at a computer monitor all day, take frequent breaks. When you do, look out the window or step outside for some fresh air. You need to give your eyes something else to focus on.

• Eat your veggies. Green vegetables help keep your vision sharp. Lutein, a powerful nutrient found in spinach, helps reduce cataracts. Try red onions and carrots, as well. They contain powerful antioxidants that are eye-friendly.

• Blink! It’s important to keep your eyes moisturized. Blink regularly, and try to avoid strong gusts of air from blowing in your eyes. Stay out of the wind whenever possible. Steer clear of being directly in front of air conditioning vents. Your corneas will thank you.

• Eat fish. Did you know that when you incorporate omega-3 fatty acids into your daily nutritional intake, this can help keep tiny blood vessels in the eye clot-free? Fish oil is a great source of Vitamins A and D, both of which are very eye health-friendly.

• Put the book down. If you’re an avid reader, it’s advisable for you to take regular breaks from your book. Too much reading or related activities (crosswords, Sudoku, etc.) can lead to eyestrain and eye fatigue, both of which contribute to poor eyesight. Don’t risk it. Take breaks at least every hour. Get up. Stretch. Focus your eyes on something else. Protecting your eyesight is well within your reach.

By following these simple steps, you’re taking action to continue to see clearly into the future for many years to come.

It seems that people in nowadays society have to face much greater pressure than ever before. Especially, their eyes get more pressure. People of almost all age groups have overused their eyes. The adults will have to work before computers all day long; kids often watch TV or play games on computers and their vision declines quickly. However, eye is one of the most important organs for mankind- it offers the way to the world. And the fact is more and more people have worse eye sight, suffering from eye diseases of different kinds. Luckily, they can all be treated in natural ways. On the whole, these ways can be fallen into several major groups, food intake, eye exercise, using habits, etc.

Balanced food intake will benefit eyes great. Some people love to eat foods with a lot of fats and oil. This will do great harm to their health, like blood flow, which will affect eyes. Therefore, it is strongly suggested to take more vegetables and fruits. In addition, some vision problems may be caused by lack of certain vitamins and other nutrients. For this, people should first eat foods with a lot of these substances. In other words, the lack of vitamins and nutrients can be resolved by taking proper daily diet, and those nutritional diets may not work in most cases. Therefore, bad habits in food taking are harmful for eyes and should be avoided.

If eyes are too tired, eye sight will be great affected. Therefore, people should relax their eyes. Especially, if work or stare at something for a very long time, take a break occasionally. Another way to reduce the tiredness of eyes is doing eye exercise. Exercise can help relax eye muscles and foster blood flow and drain out of some wastes in the eyes. Doing so can even enhance people’s eye sight.

Of course, people should also try to protect their eyes by using protective devices. For example, the computer monitor should not cause any harm to eyes, like LCD monitor. If not, wearing a pair of computer glasses is also desirable. When going outdoors under strong sunlight, some protective sunglass wearers are essential.

Besides, some pollutants in the air may also cause vision decline. Be careful about them.

All these tips can benefit all people without or without vision problems. If people can persist for a long time, their vision will be much better.

How is your eyesight? It can depend on several factors, such as age, heredity and other conditions. Did you know there are things you can do to protect your eyesight?

Here are some important resources and advice for eye care.

• Get regular eye exams.

Most health insurance plans cover annual eye exams. Don’t overlook this important benefit. If you have diabetes or you’re over the age of 65, then you need at least one annual exam, and sometimes more.

• Wear shades regularly.

Whenever you go outside, even if it’s cloudy or during the dead of winter, you need to wear sunglasses. It’s like sunscreen for your eyes.

• Get your vitamins.

If you want to preserve your eyesight, it’s important to eat foods that are rich in Vitamin A. Some examples: Apricots, sweet potatoes and carrots, to name a few. It’s also good to consume Vitamin E-rich foods such as eggs and almonds. Don’t forget to get your Vitamin C, as well, such as citrus fruits. All of these will help keep your eyesight sharp.

• Lay off the sauce and the smokes.

When you smoke cigarettes or drink excessively, your retinas suffer. Both have been linked to macular degeneration, which is irreversible, and can rob you of your eyesight.

• Keep your blood healthy.

You always want to stay on top of your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. You must avoid hypertension at all costs. On top of all the many problems it causes, it can damage your ocular blood vessels.

• Find out your history.

What’s your family history like? Are there any eye diseases in the family? How about diabetes or high blood pressure? Are you over 65 and African American? These are all risk factors for eye disorders. It’s important to know your family history, as it can play a definite role in your health. This is another reason why it’s so important to get regular exams. Tell your eye doctor about your family history.

• Get regular physicals.

Make sure your general practitioner always checks you for high blood pressure and diabetes, as they can lead to serious eye problems, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, to name a few.

• Be aware of vision changes.

There are some warning signs that can lead to vision problems. Floaters, hazy or double vision, swelling, frequent light flashes and eye swelling are all reasons for concern. If you’re experiencing trouble like this, see your eye doc immediately.

• Get more exercise.

Regular exercise can actually reduce your risk of many eye problems, including macular degeneration. Take this important step to reduce your risk.

• Work carefully.

It’s important to wear safety goggles when you’re on the job. Whether you work in a factory, or you’re simply tinkering in your workshop at home, make sure you always wear safety goggles.

• Play carefully.

Are you involved in active sports? This is another reason to wear goggles. As your mother probably told you, certain leisure activities put you at risk for eye trouble. Don’t risk it. Always wear goggles when you exercise or engage in high-energy leisure activities.

• Adjust your computer monitor to reduce glare.

Glare can cause major eye strain. If you stare at a computer monitor all day, take frequent breaks. When you do, look out the window or step outside for some fresh air. You need to give your eyes something else to focus on.

• Eat your veggies.

Green vegetables help keep your vision sharp. Lutein, a powerful nutrient found in spinach, helps reduce cataracts. Try red onions and carrots, as well. They contain powerful antioxidants that are eye-friendly.

• Blink! It’s important to keep your eyes moisturized.

Blink regularly, and try to avoid strong gusts of air from blowing in your eyes. Stay out of the wind whenever possible. Steer clear of being directly in front of air conditioning vents. Your corneas will thank you.

• Eat fish.

Did you know that when you incorporate omega-3 fatty acids into your daily nutritional intake, this can help keep tiny blood vessels in the eye clot-free? Fish oil is a great source of Vitamins A and D, both of which are very eye health-friendly.

• Put the book down.

If you’re an avid reader, it’s advisable for you to take regular breaks from your book. Too much reading or related activities (crosswords, Sudoku, etc.) can lead to eyestrain and eye fatigue, both of which contribute to poor eyesight. Don’t risk it. Take breaks at least every hour. Get up. Stretch. Focus your eyes on something else.

Protecting your eyesight is well within your reach. By following these simple steps, you’re taking action to continue to see clearly into the future for many years to come.