Eye care is a topic that doesn’t seem to get much attention today. Few people discuss it with loved ones or even with their doctor. Thankfully, you know it’s important and have found this article, so check out the great ideas found below on taking good care of your eyes.

Eat your vegetables. Living a healthy life is all about eating the right foods and avoiding the bad ones. Leafy green vegetables are packed full of Vitamin A and Vitamin E, which are very useful vitamins that help the body preform many of its necessary functions, such as repairing and replacing dead skin cells, thus preventing wrinkles and fine lines.

You should try eating a proper diet to better care for your eyes. A good diet for maintaining eye health should include items that contain zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, vitamin C, and vitamin E. To get these nutrients, try eating items like dark leafy greens, oily fish, eggs, nuts, and citrus fruits.

Keep your eyes protected from the sun. You should wear quality sunglasses to protect them from UV rays. If your eyes are frequently exposed to UVB rays, your risks for macular degeneration and cataracts increase. Try picking a pair of sunglasses that block between 99 and 100 percent of UVB and UVA rays.

Schedule an exam in the future. A lot of people simply aren’t visiting their eye doctor as regularly as they should. You should have your vision checked at least once in your twenties and then twice in your thirties, but that’s only if you don’t have history or symptoms of vision problems.

Wear protective eye gear. Sunglasses are great when it comes to protecting your eyes from the sun, but when you’re on the job and need to protect your eyes from sawdust, debris, or sand make sure you wear tougher eye gear than just a pare of goggles. Goggles are a must-have for anyone working in these kinds of environments.

Never share eye makeup with anyone. Bacteria can transfer from one person to another when eye makeup is shared. This can lead to eye irritation and other problems. At the cosmetic counter, avoid using sample products if it has been opened and used by other people already. Ask for a clean sample if available.

If you are planning on staying outside for a long period of time, wear a baseball hat or visor. This can prevent the sun’s harmful rays from impacting your eyes and can reduce any irritation that you feel. Additionally, your eyes will become less dry if you block the sun from entering in.

When you find that you are blinking often, you might have an problem with your eyes. If your eyes are not dry, it may be some sort of nervous tic caused by stress. If this happens, relax. If a tic is unlikely, talk with your ophthalmologist.

Choose a thick, dense eye creme to ensure the skin around your eyes stays taught and firm. Make sure the product you choose includes essential fatty acids as they are a necessity for your most delicate skin. If you are a teen, the time is now to start, but even adults can benefit from starting later.

When doing any type of work, avoid injuring your eyes by always wearing protective glasses. This is especially important if you job entails handling airborne or hazardous materials. You should also wear protective eye wear when playing sports since certain sports such as racquetball, lacrosse or hockey can cause eye injuries.

In order to minimize eye stress, take breaks when you have to spend long periods of time working in front of a computer. Even taking a two-minute break every half hour makes a huge difference when it comes to the toll that the work takes on your eyes, and you will be more productive.

Always wear proper eye protection. Every year, thousands of people end up blinded due to improper protection gear at work. Whenever you are working with chemicals or machinery that can cause small debris to fly, protect your eyes. A simple set of protective glasses can mean the difference between seeing and being blind.

Make sure to have your eyes looked at regularly. Many people, particularly if they do not wear glasses or contacts, have not been to the eye doctor in years. You should go at least once in your 20s and at least twice in your 30s to make sure everything is on track. Once you hit forty, try and visit the eye doctor every three years or so. And, when you reach age 65, you should go every other year.

It’s a shame that more people don’t talk about caring for their eyes, but when they lose their vision, it’ll be too late. You’ve learned all you can today, so you are prepared to care for your eyes. Be sure to let others in on what you know so they can do the same themselves.

Eyes 101: Proper Care Tips To See Better was originally published on Spring