National Save Your Vision Month: 7 Ways To Show Your Eyes Some Love

March is National Save Your Vision Month, a time to shine the spotlight on eye health and learn how to take care of your eyes.

Keeping the eyes healthy is an important part of people's overall health. Our eyes often get tired, especially with most people spending several hours a day looking at digital screens, whether it's the television, computers, or smart phones.

National Save Your Vision Month is the perfect time to pause that and consider if we are taking any steps to take care of our eyes. It's quite unlikely that people will stop using their devices, so it's important to know how to protect our vision.

Have a healthy diet

Eating a balanced diet is important for our overall health and this applies to eye health too. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), eating foods that are rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids can help keep your eyes healthy.

Take breaks

It has become harder for people to limit their screen time, but taking a break from it is key to prevent digital eye strain.

"Although ongoing technology use doesn't permanently damage vision, regular, lengthy use of technology may lead to a temporary condition called digital eye strain," Dr. David A. Cockrell, president of the American Optometric Association (AOA), said.

To prevent overexposure, the AOA recommends following the 20-20-20 rule – taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes, during which you look at something that's 20 feet away.

Wear sunglasses

Sunglasses aren't just a fashion statement, they're also essential to protect the eyes from the harsh rays of the sun. Exposure to sunlight can cause damages to the eyes and increase one's risks for macular degeneration and cataracts, the NLM says.

To reduce these risks, make sure to wear sunglasses that can block 99 to 100% of UVA and UVB radiations.

Use the right eyewear

It is important to get the right eyeglasses. According to the AOA, buying prescription eyeglasses online may be convenient but it often results in problems that cost "more time and money in the long run."

In fact, a 2011 AOA study found that about half of prescription glasses bought online either had errors or did not meet the minimum safety standards.

Know your history

There are also other factors that may contribute to people's risks for certain eye conditions. For instance, having a family history of eye diseases may put people at a higher risk of developing them. In such cases, people should inform their eye doctor about it so that they can discuss the steps to be taken to lower their risk.

Stay active, quit smoking

Staying active is also good for eye health. Exercising can reduce your risk of developing diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, which are conditions that can cause vision problems, the NLM explained.

People should also quit smoking as the habit is not only bad for the lungs but, it may also increase the risks for certain eye diseases and even harm the optic nerve.

Get checked by a doctor

Although there are several apps that claim to help evaluate your eyes, there is still "no substitute" for a doctor. Relying on apps may even delay necessary tests; so it's still better to have your eyes checked by an eye doctor.

As the National Eye Institute (NEI) explained, it's important to have the eyes checked even if they feel healthy. This is because some eye conditions don't show any symptoms at all. By getting regular eye exams, one can detect eye diseases early, when they are easier to treat.