Every year we get older, our eyesight naturally degrades. However, there are steps you can take to protect your vision for longer.

1.      Wear eye protection

Exposure to UV rays and harsh light can increase your risk of visual degeneration. Wearing sunglasses will add a layer of protection not only against the harsh UV rays but also dust particles.

2.      Practice good hygiene

Washing your hands frequently can help eliminate the build-up of harmful bacteria. It’s been shown that the average person touches their face around 16 times per hour! By washing your hands more regularly, this will minimise your risk of eye infections.

3.      Avoid rubbing your eyes

Bacteria is commonly spread to your eyes through rubbing them. Germs build up quickly on our hands and a way to mitigate the spread of these germs to your eyes is to avoid touching your face and eyes.

4.      Keep a balanced and nutritional diet

Make sure your diet is rich in Beta-carotene, Lutein, Omega-3, Lycopene, and Vitamins C, A, and E. These will ensure good eye health. You can find these nutrients in:

• Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and collards

• Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish

• Eggs, nuts, beans, and other nonmeat protein sources

• Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices

• Oysters and pork

5.      Take regular screen breaks

Staring at a screen all day can cause dry eyes, headaches, neck and back strain and long-term vision trouble. To avoid this, take regular breaks where you step away from your screen, take a walk around the room and rest your eyes.

6.      Explore the display and brightness features on your devices

It’s impossible to completely avoid screens, thankfully many phones and computers understand that the blue light they emit is harmful for your eyes. Due to this, many have optional features to turn down the brightness of your device or to put a warm light filter on your screen. Explore the settings of your device till you find one that works for you.

7.      Wear your prescription eyewear

This one might seem obvious, but it can be tempting to leave them off when reading or to watching tv. In the long term this will only do more damage to your eyesight.

8.      See an optometrist at least once a year

Our eyes deteriorate with age, therefore, seeing an eye specialist once a year should help you catch any vision problems you may get before they get serious.

9.      Stop smoking

Smoking has adverse effects on your health in general. When it comes to your vision, smoking increases your risk of developing cataracts age-related macular degeneration. So, if you want to mitigate the risks, try not to take that smoke break.

Looking after your eyesight is important. Following these helpful hints should assist you in maintaining great vision well into your older years.