When taking care of our bodies, most people often neglect the health of their eyes. Eyes can help us perceive impressions and views around us. As the only organ of sight, our eyes need to be taken care of, as much as any other part of the body.

Unlike animals that can use their sense of smell to identify nearby objects, humans are hugely reliant on their eyesight for navigation, balance and learning information about their surroundings. As our dominant sense, maintaining the health of the eyes is extremely important.

Here are a few simple tips and tricks you can use to help protect your eyes and keep them healthy and young:

Healthy Body = Healthy Eyes

A sound diet is the sign of a sound body. Highly nutritious food sources help maintain a healthy weight, thus avoiding the possible risk of obesity and other associated diseases. Just like other parts of the body, our eyes need a balanced amount of nutrition and food for their well-being.

Foods high in some nutrients, proteins, and vitamins are ideal for eye health. Vitamin C, E, A, and D; Omega-3 fatty acids; antioxidants; lutein; zeaxanthin and zinc have been proven quite beneficial for eyes. Foods rich in carotenoids are excellent for the overall health of the body, specifically the eyes.

Vegetables and fruit with either red, white, green, blue, purple, yellow or orange pigmentations should be added into the diet to improve the health of the body and maintain an ideal weight. Different herbs and seeds are also beneficial for the body.

Exercise

Physical activities and exercises are proven to have instant and long-term benefits for the body. Exercise can help improve your quality of life and the overall functioning of the body. Exercise can reduce the risk of diseases and illnesses. Some exercises can help with body coordination, focus and in toning the muscles of the body. Some exercises can even help reduce the risk of eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, and macular degeneration. Exercises such as yoga and meditation can help relax the body and improve the overall health of the body. Aerobic exercises are also recommended for improving the quality of life. Running, jogging, brisk walking and cycling are also advised.

Eye exercises such as framing, figure 8 formation, alternating your focus between different directions, and fast blinking, can help improve eye health and strengthen the muscles of the eyes.

Wear Sunglasses and Protective Eyewear

Accessorizing your look with sunglasses when you go outside can also help protect your eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun. Exposure to the harmful rays of the sun can result in some eye-related diseases. A good pair of shades or wraparound sunglasses can help prevent your eyes from drying out and help keep them young and healthy.

Wearing protective eyewear while playing sports, doing construction work or cleaning your house can significantly lower your risk of eye injuries. Thus, it is advisable to wear proper protective eye gear to help guard your eyes.

No Smoking

Besides various health risks accompanied by smoking, the smoke and substances in cigarettes can also have a bad impact on your eyes. The smoke from cigarettes can cause irritation of the eyes and sometimes damage to the internal organs of the body as well. Avoiding smoking can help save your eyes from some diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

Check Your Family’s Medical History

The medical history of a family is a huge determinant of the different types of precautions that should be taken to maintain your health. Genetics plays a huge role in the occurrence of some eye-related diseases such as glaucoma. Finding out more about your family history can help you identify risk factors associated with different eye diseases.

Practice Cleanliness

Keeping your eyes clean is the secret to keeping them healthy. Washing your eyes regularly with cold water can help relax the eyes and avoid strain on the eyes. For cleaning your eyes, artificial teardrops or other eye drops recommended by your doctor can also be used.

Ayurvedic and natural remedies can also be explored that can help you keep your eyes clean and fresh.

Take a Break

Continuously working for extended periods can tire out the eyes. Taking a break every now and then is strongly advised as it can help relax the eyes.

The famous 20/20/20 rule is a good practice to start with. The rule states that after every 20 minutes, you should take a break for at least 20 seconds, and look 20 feet away from you.

Get Regular Check-Ups

Regularly visiting your doctor can help you identify the health of your eyes and help identify any risks to your eye health. The risk of eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, and age-related macular degeneration continuously increase with age. It is thus, a good idea to visit your doctor for regular eye exam, every one to two years.

Clean your Contact Lens

If you are a regular wearer of contact lenses or only wear them occasionally, you should swap out your old pair of contacts for a new one, ASAP. Contact lenses are a breeding ground for various infections and bacteria.

Certain kinds of contact lens solution include antibacterial properties, which can help clean your lens, preventing the risk of possible eye infection.

Accessorize with Hats

Hats and caps have always been in fashion. Hats can help protect your face and can also help prevent some of the rays of the sun from harming your eyes and the surrounding area. Accessorizing your outfits with matching hats or caps can help protect your eyes and help you make a fashion statement.

Sleep Well

Sleep is crucial for human body. Sleep helps revitalize the body, assisting it in rejuvenating itself and resting well. Sleeping is especially beneficial for the eyes. After a long tiring day, the eyes need to relax.

Lack of sleep can result in dry eyes and increase the amount of water retention and fluid around the eyes. Therefore, a little shuteye can do wonders for you and your eyes.

Limit Blue Light Exposure

Prolonged exposure to blue light has been linked with the destruction of light detecting cells in the eyes. The most common sources of blue light are digital devices such as our smartphones and computer screens. Blue light can adversely affect the health of the eyes and even cause damage to the retina. Blue light affects our sleep cycle, and may also increase the risk of macular degeneration.

Limiting your exposure to blue light or using blue light filters on all your devices can significantly help and maintain your eyesight.

Hydration is Key

Hydration is vital for your eyes and body. Drinking lots of water can keep your eyes hydrated and moisturized. Hydration can help remove toxins from your body and flush out excess salt, which can cause water retention and swelling.

Cut Down on the Salts

Excessive consumption of salts can cause bloating, water retention and swelling. Salt has been linked to different health issues. The sodium in salt can cause adverse reactions to the body. Cutting out salt from your diet can help lessen water retention and swelling around the eyes.

Avoid Rubbing or Touching your Eyes

Our hands come in contact with different surfaces daily. Different kinds of bacteria are found on the skin, for example, which can transfer to the eyes if the eyes are rubbed or touched. These bacteria can result in eye infections if precautionary measures are not taken. If your eyes start to itch or are irritated, wash your eyes with cold water, or go visit a doctor.

Like every other organ of the body, our eyes also need to be cared for, as they are our only organ of sight. For further eye care, tips in the winter season check out this article. For eye care tips in the spring season, check this out.