Keeping Your Eyes in Good Health 

In addition to obtaining regular eye exams, there a numerous ways you can foster good eye health. Here are few tips the AOA recommends to help keep your eyes in good condition: 

• Use proper eye protection on the job, while working around the house and while playing sports. 

• Follow good computer viewing practices in order to prevent Computer Vision Syndrome. You can speak to your optometrist about this if your job requires long and frequent computer use. 

• Wear eye protection to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. You'll want sunglasses that block out at least 95 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation and screens out at least 75 percent of visible light. 

• Consume a diet high in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin to help avoid macular degeneration and cataracts. The best sources to get these nutrients include dark green, leafy vegetables, broccoli, orange peppers, corn, peas and tangerines. 

To locate an optometrist in your area, ask friends, family or a primary care physician for referrals. You can also search the AOA's physician database for a list of accredited clinics.