Posted March 27, 2025 by Anupreet Kaur, M.D., Medical Director, Care Management and Population Health
Many of us take our vision for granted. We use our eyes to see loved ones, read a great book, watch a movie, play games with kids or grandkids and just about every activity in between.
The tough truth of the matter, though, is that vision loss is highly prevalent, affecting millions of people around the globe. It is also increasingly common as we age.
Left untreated, eye conditions like cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration can cause vision loss and even blindness.
The good news is that while some eye conditions are hereditary, many can be avoided with proper preventative eye care. That’s why taking steps to protect your eyes, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diagnosing any issues or ailments that affect your eyes early is important.
So, don’t look the other way when it comes to your vision. Follow SummaCare’s tips to protect your eyesight and reap the benefits of healthy vision for years to come.
Even if you don’t have any symptoms of eye problems, it’s important to have regular comprehensive eye exams. An eye checkup can reveal more than just vision problems. The doctor checks inside your eye for issues with the retina, blood vessels and optic nerve to detect vision problems or eye diseases. The problem is that many eye diseases, including glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, don’t show indicators of abnormality until they are quite advanced and potentially irreversible.
The good news? Dilated eye exams are quick and painless. The American Optometric Association recommends that adults have a comprehensive eye and vision exam at least every two years, depending on age and risk factors. Aging and chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol can cause problems for your eyes and even lead to vision loss. Talk to your provider about how often you need an exam.
The average American worker spends seven hours a day on a digital device, according to the American Optometric Association. When you spend a lot of time staring at a computer or device, you sometimes forget to blink.
As a result, many people suffer from what’s referred to as digital eyestrain that causes headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes and eye irritation. To help alleviate digital eyestrain, follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to view something 20 feet away.
Before stepping outside, you should always grab your sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays — just like you protect your skin. Also, make sure your shades offer 99%- to 100%-UV protection, and never look directly at the sun.
If you’re going to be outside for long periods of time, wear sunglasses—even if it’s cloudy. Over time, damage from UV rays can lead to serious eye conditions, such as cataracts and pterygium, which causes an abnormal growth over the whites of your eyes.
From mowing the lawn and home improvement projects to cleaning with chemicals and workplace hazards, it’s important to protect your eyes from injury by wearing safety glasses.
Protective eyewear might include:
To avoid the risk of infection, it’s important to wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Your hands are a hotbed for germs. If you don’t clean properly, germs from your hands can enter your eyes, leading to infections like pink eye.
In addition, disinfect contact lenses and replace them as directed by your doctor.
Some eye conditions and diseases are hereditary such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and retina pigmentosa, so it’s important to talk to your family members about their eye health history.
This information can alert you and your doctor to whether you’re at higher risk of developing these eye problems. Together, you can discuss proactive steps to reduce your risk such as lifestyle changes, screenings or preemptive treatments.
Protecting your health and making good lifestyle choices can go a long way toward keeping your eyes healthy and your eyesight at its best.
Just like your body, your eyes need vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to stay healthy. Foods rich in vitamins C and E, as well as, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids including leafy greens, seafood, nuts, and, of course, fresh fruits and vegetables, all can protect your eyesight and contribute to overall health.
Eating right can reduce your risk of vision problems like age-related degeneration. Plus, eating well and maintaining a healthy weight helps prevent health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure that can put you at risk for eye problems.
In addition, it’s important to drink plenty of water each day to keep your eyes moist. Just like your body needs hydration to keep systems working properly, so do your eyes. Dehydration can lead to dry, red, itchy eyes.
Physical activity increases the flow of blood and nutrients in your body, contributing
to the health of your retina and the optic nerves in your eyes. Plus, the added bonus of helping you to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Aim to get about 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. But if that’s too much, any amount of physical activity is a good start.
Chronic conditions can damage your eyes if they aren’t managed appropriately. High blood pressure and high cholesterol increase your risk of damaging blood vessels in the retina and, if uncontrolled, can lead to vision loss. Diabetes also increases the risk of cataracts. Obesity increases the risk for glaucoma.
Maintaining a healthy weight, blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol are essential to keeping your eyes at their healthiest. Talk to your doctor about steps you can take to better control your condition.