The health of your eyes is linked to your overall health, so if your diet is lacking in essential nutrients, you have an underlying health condition or you're not exercising regularly, it may affect the condition of your eyes, according to the NHS Choices website for England's National Health Service. There are a number of ways you can help keep your eyes free from harmful toxins and in optimum condition.
Eat Healthily
A healthy diet can help keep your eyes in optimum condition, prevent infection and reduce your risk of eye infections and diseases, such as macular degeneration and cataracts, says All About Vision. Some of the best foods for eye health are brightly colored fruit and vegetables, which are loaded with antioxidants that protect your eyes from cell damage; dark green, leafy vegetables, broccoli and corn, which contain high levels of the powerful eye antioxidant lutein; and carrots and squash, both high in vitamin A, which is essential for eye health.
Exercise
Regular exercise can reduce your risk of poor eye health, especially age-related macular degeneration. Studies have shown that people who engage in regular, moderate exercise--such as walking at least three times a week--are 70 percent less likely to develop age-related eye conditions than those who are inactive, says The Medical News website.
Stop Smoking
Smoking can seriously impact eye health--in fact it is just as likely to cause sight loss as to lead to lung cancer, says the website for the Royal National Institute of Blind People. This is because it damages the tissues in the eye and increases the number of free radicals, which are toxins that damage your cells, speed up the aging process and prevent your body from absorbing nutrients from food.
Eye drops
Eye drops can help when you don't produce enough tears to keep your eyes moist and free from foreign particles and your vision clear. This condition is called dry eye and it can result in itchy, tired, red and swollen eyes, says MayoClinic.com. Eye drops can be bought over the counter and are best used for milder symptoms of dry eye, says MayoClinic.com. If you choose drops with preservatives, avoid using them on your eyes more than four times a day as they can aggravate your eyes in high doses. Preservative-free products are less likely to cause irritation, but should be used once and thrown away.
Protect Your Eyes
Staring directly into the sun, or being in bright light for prolonged periods, can have serious consequences for your eyes, such as damage to your sight and even blindness, says the NHS Choices website for England's National Health Service. When you are outdoors in bright sunlight, always wear protective eyewear and a hat. And, when choosing sunglasses, look for ones that offer a high degree of ultraviolet protection.
