The health of your eyes determines how clear and lasting your vision is. If your last eye exam didn’t go as you hoped, there are steps you can take to improve their condition. These steps will boost your overall eye health and reduce your chance of disease and vision loss. Below are four tips for improving the health of your eyes.

How to Keep Your Eyes Healthy

1. Get Regular Eye Exams

Your annual eye exam is crucial to maintaining eye health. Routine exams allow an eye doctor to detect diseases early, and reduce your overall risk for conditions that threaten your vision. Skipping a regular eye exam could allow the early stages of a disease to advance to a late stage, requiring a more aggressive treatment when it’s discovered.

2. Wear Protective Gear

Excessive exposure to UV rays can lead to increased risk for various ocular conditions, including cataracts and macular degeneration. Always wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV, UVA, and UVB rays when you’re outside in the daylight. You should also wear protective goggles when required, such as while working around machinery or flying debris.

3. Reduce Eye Strain

Straining your eyes will lead to dryness, redness, headaches, discomfort, and blurred vision, all of which can become chronic problems. Avoid straining your eyes by always keeping the prescription of your glasses or contact lenses up-to-date. Always read and write in well-lit spaces, too, and take frequent breaks from TV and device screens. If you’re already suffering from chronic dry eyes, allow your eyes to rest completely for several days (if possible), and use over-the-counter eye drops to relieve symptoms.

4. Eat a Balanced Diet

Healthy foods like fish and leafy vegetables are staples of a balanced diet, and they also contain essential nutrients that your eyes need. Omega-3s found in fish, for instance, are crucial to retina health. The lutein present in leafy vegetables may help reduce your chances for developing ocular diseases, too. A healthy diet will ensure optimal ocular function that your physician will notice at your next eye exam.

If you need an eye exam, the skilled team at Eye Care Locale in Cincinnati, OH, will provide gentle, thorough care. Since 2016, their eye doctor has offered comprehensive ocular services to the area, from prescription glasses and contacts in leading brands to the management of ocular diseases. With frequent specials and 3 locations that all accept CareSource, they strive to make affordable, quality eye care accessible to everyone. Request an appointment on their website, and call (513) 251-9464 to inquire about insurance or brands.