Don't take your eyes for granted. Protect your vision using these six tips:

1. Eat for Good Vision
Protecting your eyes starts with the food on your plate. Studies show that nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E may help prevent age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Regularly eating these foods can help improve eye health:
Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collard greens
Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
Eggs, nuts, beans, and other non-meat protein sources
Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices

A balanced diet can also help you maintain a healthy weight, reducing your chances of developing obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness in adults.

Use Biophilia Tracker to help you choose the right health products for your eyes.

2. Quit Smoking
Smoking makes you more susceptible to cataracts, optic nerve damage, and macular degeneration. If you've tried quitting smoking before and started again, keep trying. The more times you try to quit smoking, the greater your chances of success.

3. Wear Sunglasses
Proper sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Excessive UV exposure can make you more susceptible to cataracts and macular degeneration.

Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Surround lenses help protect your eyes from the sides. Polarized lenses reduce glare while driving.

Some contact lenses offer UV protection. However, wearing sunglasses for added protection is still a good idea.

4. Use Safety Glasses

Wear safety glasses or goggles every time you work with hazardous or airborne materials at work or at home.

Some sports, such as ice hockey, squash, and lacrosse, can also cause eye injuries. Wear protective goggles (such as a helmet with a face shield or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses) to protect your eyes.

5. Stay Away from Computer Screens

Make sure your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription is up-to-date and suitable for computer use.

Some people may need glasses when using a computer to help improve contrast, reduce glare, and alleviate eye strain.

Place your computer so that your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. This allows you to look slightly downwards at the screen.

Try to avoid glare from windows and lights on your computer. If needed, use an anti-glare screen.

Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position it so that your feet are flat on the floor.

If your eyes are dry, blink more often.

Every 20 minutes, rest your eyes by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Get up and take a 15-minute break at least every 2 hours.

6. See an eye doctor regularly.

Everyone, even young children, should have their eyes checked regularly. It helps protect your vision and see at its best.

Eye exams can also detect some asymptomatic eye conditions, such as glaucoma. Early detection is important because these conditions are easier to treat.

Depending on your eye health needs, you can have an eye exam with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a doctor who specializes in the care of the eyes. They can provide general eye care, treat eye conditions, and perform eye surgeries. Optometrists undergo four years of professional training after graduating from university. They provide general eye care and treat the most common eye conditions. They do not perform eye surgeries.