X

4 Expert Tips for Maintaining Your Eye Health Through the Years

It's normal for your eyes and vision to change. Follow these tips to monitor your eye health as you age.

Headshot of Ashlee Valentine
Headshot of Ashlee Valentine
Ashlee Valentine CNET Contributor
Ashlee is an MBA business professional by day and a dynamic freelance writer by night. Covering industries like banking, finance, and health & wellness, her work has been published on sites like bankrate.com, thesimpledollar.com, interest.com, womens-health.com and more. Ashlee specializes in personal finance and is passionate about helping others achieve greater financial freedom.
Ashlee Valentine
3 min read
Person's face, with one younger eye and one older eye in a white frame
Dimitri Otis/Getty Images

As you age, your risk of developing conditions that impact your eye health grows. While this is completely normal, there are things that you can do to support your eye health every day, in addition to seeing your eye doctor for any concerns and regular eye exams

Focusing on your eye health can also double as a form of paying closer attention to your full-body health. Here's what to know.

1. Know your risk level for eye diseases

Upgrade your inbox
Get cnet insider
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Knowing what things affect your vision and how to identify symptoms is one of the most effective ways to stay on top of your eye health. 

If you work a job where you look at a computer screen all day, you're probably already familiar with eye fatigue and strain that sometimes cause temporary blurry vision. Take eye breaks at least every 20 minutes, and consider a pair of blue light-blocking glasses for use while working. If you work outdoors where the sun may damage your eyes or in a facility where things could get into your eyes, make sure to wear the appropriate protective eyewear and respond promptly to any injuries. 

Don't forget about your family history. There are more than 350 eye diseases that are considered hereditary. You can't change your genetics, but being aware of them will help you identify symptoms or seek preventive care. 

Read more: Best Reading Glasses of 2024

Upgrade your inbox
Get cnet insider
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

2. Get your eyes checked with regular eye exams

Eye examinations may not be what you look forward to most, but they should rank pretty high on the list of important things to do as you age. Whether you have a family history of vision issues or not, regular eye exams can help you identify issues early before they become something more severe. 

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends eye examinations at least every year or two after age 65. Age-related eye issues like cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration can be identified early by an ophthalmologist. 

Eye testing equipment
Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

3. Wear proper eyewear both inside and outside

The sun's UV rays can be harmful to the eyes and damage your vision. Excessive UV light has been linked to a higher risk of cataracts or even eyelid cancers, according to the US National Institutes of Health. Wear a proper hat and sunglasses that block at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays. 

If you wear prescription glasses or contacts, or even a pair of over-the-counter readers, be proactive in updating your eyewear regularly. The prescription you needed at the time may be different than what you need now. Even if those over-the-counter readers did the trick a year ago, you may need a little more help now. 

4. Take care of your body as a whole

Although external environmental factors certainly play a role, a lot of your eye health comes from the inside out. 

CNET Health Tips logo

A diet full of the best foods for healthy eyes can help deliver your body the nutrients it needs for optimal eye health. That includes things like almonds, broccoli, carrots, eggs, kiwi, leafy greens, salmon and sunflower seeds that are easy to incorporate into meals. A proper diet also encourages healthy blood glucose and body weight, which reduces the risk of diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90% of diabetes-related blindness is preventable

If you're a smoker, now is the time to stop. Among the many other diseases, smoking is associated with, smoking-related eye conditions are common. Two of the biggest threats are macular degeneration and cataracts. As a smoker, you're twice as likely to develop age-related macular degeneration and two to three times more likely to develop cataracts than nonsmokers, per the CDC. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.