10 things to know about EYE HEALTH

We may not give them a second thought until they hurt or our vision changes, yet our eyes work especially hard from the moment they open until the time they close at night. For Healthy Vision Month, here are some eye-opening tips.

- by Gina Way

1 Eating carrots really does help!

Carrots and leafy greens have tons of eye-healthy antioxidants and boost vitamin A, “which plays a role in the production of rhodopsin, a pigment in the retina that’s needed for low-light and night vision,” says Jaclyn London, R.D. Other eye-friendly foods: vitamin C–rich citrus fruits (to help protect from UV light damage) and sunflower seeds, peanuts, and avocados (which supply vitamin E to help prevent the break-down of eye tissue).

2 Got something in your eye? Do this…

If an eyelash or a fleck of dirt is stuck in your eye, don’t rub the eye or stick your finger in it—that will only trigger irritation and introduce bacteria into the delicate area. Try these moves instead:

➜ Blink like crazy, which will initiate the flow of natural tears.

➜ No help? Flush the eye with sterile saline solution. (If you wear contact lenses, remove them first.)

➜ Seek medical help immediately if your eye hurts or you’re having trouble seeing (especially if something has become embedded in your eye or a chemical has gotten into it).

3 Detox from digital eyestrain.