Even if you’re a fitness freak or a gym bunny, the one aspect of health you may not have thought about is looking after your eyes. We all focus on a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and looking after ourselves, but do we pay attention to one of the most important organs in our bodies?

Keeping your eyes healthy is really a matter of prevention, and a few simple steps can go a long way towards preserving your sight and general ocular (eye) health. A vital step is to have regular check ups with a qualified Optician, also called an Optometrist. They recommend tests every two years to check your eye health, tell you if you need glasses, and will even pick up some general health issues too.

If you smoke – give up! Smoking is a factor in the eye disease Macular Degeneration, and as soon as you stop you are halting any damage. Macular Degeneration causes loss of central vision, which means you won’t be able to see to read or drive. It may also be a factor in formation of cataracts.

A good balanced diet will obviously help your general health, but can also maintain healthy eyes and vision too. Natural carteniods, found in green leafy vegetables have a positive effect on the retina and therefore protect against Macular problems. If you don’t eat a wide variety of fruit and vegetables you might consider taking a supplement to maintain eye health.

There are many supplements on the market. Ingredients to look for are antioxidants, zinc, selenium, Vitamins A, B, C, and E, Lutein and Zeaxanthin. Antioxidants and zinc reduce the risk of Macular Degeneration. Selenium and the Antioxidant vitamins A C and E encourage mucus production, which keeps the soft tissue around the eye – the conjunctiva healthy. Vitamin C may also protect the eyes against cataract formation. Vitamin B complex is vital to healthy function of the Optic nerve. Lutein and Zeaxanthin occur naturally in the retina, the light sensitive layer that lines the back of the eye. These nutrients protect the retina by absorbing blue light, which can damage the Retina.

You may not have realised that keeping your body fit keeps eyes fit too. It improves oxygen levels in the eyes, and a recent study has shown that children who play outside and therefore focus at long distances are less likely to become myopic (short sighted) They also benefit from being out in natural light too.

If you wear prescription glasses then take good care of them and ensure that they are kept clean and up to date. Talk to the Dispensing Optician when you visit your Optician’s practice to make sure that you have UV protection if necessary, and the correct tints for your needs. They will also help you with protective glasses for sport or at work.

Looking after your eyes takes very little but reaps huge rewards. We’re all living for longer – won’t it be nice to actually see the cake at your hundredth birthday party?!