Your eyes allow you to read, work, drive, recognize faces and interact with the world around you. Protecting them involves much more than simply avoiding eye strain.
Some eye conditions cannot be prevented, but many eye injuries and certain causes of vision impairment can be prevented, detected early or treated effectively.
The World Health Organization estimates that at least 2.2 billion people worldwide have near or distance vision impairment, and in at least 1 billion cases the impairment could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed.
Good eye care therefore includes healthy everyday habits, protection from injury and ultraviolet radiation, management of health conditions such as diabetes, and appropriate eye examinations.
1. Have Your Eyes Checked
Eye examinations are not only for people who already wear glasses.
Some eye diseases can develop before a person notices significant symptoms.
An eye examination can help identify:
- refractive errors,
- cataracts,
- glaucoma,
- diabetic eye disease,
- and other eye conditions.
How often you need an examination depends on factors including:
- age,
- vision,
- family history,
- existing eye conditions,
- diabetes and other health conditions,
- and recommendations from your eye-care professional.
Do not wait for severe vision loss before seeking eye care.
2. Don't Look Directly at the Sun
Looking directly at the sun can damage the retina at the back of the eye.
The danger is particularly important during a solar eclipse, when people may be tempted to stare at the sun for longer than usual.
Ordinary sunglasses are not safe for directly viewing an eclipse.
Use only appropriate certified solar-viewing equipment when observing the sun.
Never look directly at the sun through:
- binoculars,
- telescopes,
- cameras,
- or other optical equipment
unless the device has a correctly fitted solar filter designed specifically for that purpose.
3. Wear Sunglasses That Block UVA and UVB Radiation
Ultraviolet radiation can damage the eyes over time.
When choosing sunglasses, look for lenses that block 99–100% of UVA and UVB radiation.
Good sunglasses are useful even on cloudy days because ultraviolet radiation can still reach your eyes.
A wide-brimmed hat can provide additional protection.
Dark lenses alone do not necessarily provide adequate UV protection—the important factor is the lens's UV-blocking capability.
4. Stop Smoking—or Don't Start
Smoking harms many parts of the body, including the eyes.
Smoking is associated with increased risk of serious eye conditions, including:
- cataracts,
- and age-related macular degeneration.
It also increases cardiovascular disease risk, which can indirectly affect eye health.
If you smoke, stopping is one of the most beneficial steps you can take for your overall health.
5. Eat a Balanced Diet
There is no single “miracle food” that guarantees good eyesight.
Your eyes benefit from the same overall healthy dietary pattern that supports the rest of your body.
A balanced diet can include:
- leafy green vegetables,
- other colourful vegetables,
- fruit,
- whole grains,
- beans and legumes,
- nuts and seeds,
- fish,
- eggs,
- and other nutritious protein sources.
Nutrients important to normal eye function include vitamin A and several other vitamins, minerals and fatty acids.
However, supplements should not automatically be taken simply because they are marketed for “eye health.”
6. Carrots Are Healthy—but They Don't Give You Super Vision
Carrots contain beta-carotene, which the body can convert into vitamin A.
Vitamin A is essential for normal vision.
However, eating very large quantities of carrots will not give someone with adequate nutrition extraordinary eyesight or eliminate the need for glasses.
Eye health depends on overall nutrition and many other factors.
7. Manage Diabetes
Diabetes can damage blood vessels in the retina, causing diabetic retinopathy.
Early diabetic retinopathy may not produce noticeable symptoms.
Managing:
- blood glucose,
- blood pressure,
- cholesterol,
- and other cardiovascular risk factors
can help reduce the risk or progression of diabetic eye disease.
People with diabetes should follow the eye-screening or examination schedule recommended by their healthcare professionals.
8. Manage High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can also affect blood vessels throughout the body, including those supplying the eyes.
Managing hypertension is therefore part of protecting long-term eye and cardiovascular health.
Take prescribed medication as directed and attend appropriate health reviews.
9. Protect Your Eyes at Work
Many eye injuries are preventable.
Protective eyewear is particularly important in jobs involving:
- construction,
- welding,
- grinding,
- chemicals,
- woodwork,
- metalwork,
- agriculture,
- laboratories,
- and machinery.
The correct protection depends on the hazard.
Ordinary prescription glasses may not provide adequate protection against workplace hazards.
Use properly designed:
- safety glasses,
- goggles,
- face shields,
- welding helmets,
- or other appropriate equipment.
10. Welding Requires Proper Eye Protection
Welding produces intense visible light, ultraviolet radiation and infrared radiation.
Looking at a welding arc without appropriate protection can injure the cornea and other structures of the eye.
Welders should use equipment with the appropriate filter shade and follow occupational safety requirements.
People nearby may also require protection.
11. Protect Your Eyes During Sports
Sports are another common source of eye injuries.
Activities involving:
- fast-moving balls,
- rackets,
- sticks,
- close physical contact,
- or projectiles
may require sport-specific protective eyewear.
Ordinary eyeglasses are not a substitute for appropriate sports eye protection.
Children involved in higher-risk sports should also use suitable protection.
12. Protect Your Eyes During DIY and Home Repairs
Eye injuries do not occur only in workplaces.
Tasks such as:
- drilling,
- hammering,
- cutting,
- sanding,
- gardening,
- mowing,
- and using chemicals
can send particles or liquids toward the eyes.
Use appropriate safety glasses or goggles during potentially hazardous home projects.
13. Don't Put Sharp Objects Near Your Eyes
Never use sharp instruments to remove something from the eye.
A deeply embedded object requires professional medical attention.
Attempting to remove it yourself can cause additional damage.
If an object penetrates the eye, do not pull it out or apply pressure to the eye.
Protect the area from further injury and seek urgent medical care.
14. Don't Rub Your Eyes Excessively
Occasionally touching your eyes is unavoidable, but frequent or aggressive rubbing can:
- irritate the eyes,
- introduce germs,
- worsen allergies,
- and potentially injure the surface of the eye.
Wash your hands before touching your eyes or handling contact lenses.
If your eyes frequently itch, burn or feel irritated, determine the cause rather than repeatedly rubbing them.
15. Screen Use Can Cause Eye Strain
Long periods using:
- computers,
- smartphones,
- tablets,
- televisions,
- and other screens
can contribute to digital eye strain.
Symptoms may include:
- tired eyes,
- dry eyes,
- blurred vision,
- headache,
- difficulty focusing,
- and neck or shoulder discomfort.
These symptoms can be uncomfortable, but ordinary screen use has not been shown to permanently damage healthy adult eyes simply because a person looks at a computer for a long time.
16. Try the 20-20-20 Rule
The National Eye Institute recommends a simple strategy for people spending long periods looking at screens:
Every 20 minutes, look at something approximately 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
This is known as the 20-20-20 rule.
It allows the focusing system of the eyes to relax periodically.
You can also:
- blink regularly,
- adjust screen brightness,
- reduce glare,
- use comfortable text sizes,
- and position your screen at a comfortable distance.
17. Remember to Blink
People tend to blink less frequently while concentrating on digital screens.
Blinking helps spread tears across the eye surface.
Reduced blinking can therefore contribute to dryness, burning and irritation.
Make a conscious effort to blink normally during prolonged screen use.
If persistent dry-eye symptoms continue, consult an eye-care professional.
18. Does Reading in Dim Light Damage Your Eyes?
The old article advised people not to read in poor lighting.
Dim lighting can make reading uncomfortable and may contribute to temporary eye strain or headache.
However, reading in dim light is not generally considered a cause of permanent eye damage.
Use comfortable lighting because it makes reading easier—not because reading one book in dim light will make you blind.
19. Children Need Breaks From Near Work
For children, prolonged near work and insufficient time outdoors are increasingly important considerations because of the worldwide rise in myopia (short-sightedness).
WHO reports that spending more time outdoors during daylight and taking regular breaks from near-work activities may help delay the onset and slow progression of myopia in children.
Children should therefore have opportunities for regular outdoor activity as well as breaks from prolonged close-up work.
20. Eye Exercises Don't Cure Refractive Errors
The old article recommended exercising the eyes regularly.
General “eye exercises” have not been shown to eliminate common refractive errors such as:
- myopia,
- hyperopia,
- astigmatism,
- or age-related presbyopia.
Specific exercises may be prescribed for certain diagnosed eye-coordination problems, but that is different from claiming everyone should exercise their eyes to prevent eye disease.
If you have blurred vision, get your vision assessed rather than relying on eye exercises.
21. Use Contact Lenses Safely
Contact lenses can provide safe and effective vision correction when they are used correctly.
However, they are medical devices and improper use can cause serious eye infections.
Always:
- wash and dry your hands before touching your lenses,
- follow the prescribed replacement schedule,
- use the correct cleaning and disinfecting solution,
- keep the storage case clean,
- replace the case as recommended,
- and follow instructions from your eye-care professional.
22. Don't Use Water to Clean Contact Lenses
Water is not sterile.
Do not rinse or store contact lenses in:
- tap water,
- bottled water,
- distilled water,
- or homemade saline.
Use only the contact-lens solutions recommended for your lenses.
23. Remove Contact Lenses Before Swimming or Showering
Water exposure can introduce microorganisms that may cause serious eye infections.
Remove contact lenses before:
- swimming,
- showering,
- using a hot tub,
- or participating in other activities where water may enter the eyes,
unless your eye-care professional has specifically advised otherwise.
24. Sleeping in Contact Lenses Can Increase Infection Risk
Do not routinely sleep in contact lenses unless the lenses have specifically been prescribed for overnight wear and your eye-care professional has advised that schedule.
Sleeping in lenses intended only for daytime use increases the risk of serious eye infection.
Even lenses approved for extended wear are not risk-free.
Follow the exact wear schedule prescribed for you.
25. Never Share Contact Lenses
Contact lenses should never be shared with another person.
Sharing lenses can spread microorganisms and may expose the eye to an incorrectly fitted lens.
Cosmetic and coloured contact lenses should also be professionally fitted and used safely.
26. Know the Warning Signs of a Contact-Lens Infection
If you wear contact lenses and develop:
- significant eye pain,
- increasing redness,
- unusual sensitivity to light,
- discharge,
- sudden blurred vision,
- or excessive watering,
remove the lenses and seek prompt professional eye care.
A severe corneal infection can threaten vision if treatment is delayed.
27. What If Soap or Shampoo Gets Into Your Eye?
Minor exposure to ordinary soap or shampoo usually causes temporary irritation.
Rinse the affected eye gently with plenty of clean water.
Avoid rubbing it.
However, exposure to a stronger chemical is different and can represent an emergency.
28. Chemical Exposure to the Eye Is an Emergency
If a potentially harmful chemical enters your eye, begin rinsing immediately.
Do not delay irrigation while searching online or waiting for medical advice.
Use plenty of clean, lukewarm water and continue flushing the eye.
Remove contact lenses if they come out easily during rinsing.
Do not attempt to neutralize one chemical with another substance.
After significant chemical exposure, seek urgent medical care or contact your local poison or emergency service as appropriate.
29. Don't Put Salt, Herbal Mixtures or Unapproved Substances Into Your Eyes
The old article correctly warned against putting salt directly into the eyes.
This warning should extend to other unapproved home remedies.
Do not put substances such as:
- concentrated salt solutions,
- herbal preparations,
- plant extracts,
- urine,
- saliva,
- breast milk,
- homemade eye drops,
- or other unsterile mixtures
into the eyes.
Unsafe traditional remedies and contaminated substances can cause irritation, infection or serious eye injury.
Use medicines and eye drops intended for ophthalmic use and follow appropriate professional advice.
30. Don't Share Eye Medicines
Do not share prescription or over-the-counter eye drops with another person.
The medication may not be appropriate for their condition, and the bottle can become contaminated.
Do not allow the tip of an eye-drop bottle to touch:
- your eye,
- eyelid,
- fingers,
- or other surfaces.
31. Be Careful With Redness-Relief Eye Drops
A red eye can have many causes.
Repeatedly using eye drops simply to make redness disappear may mask an underlying problem.
Persistent redness, pain or visual changes should be evaluated rather than continually self-treated.
32. Know Your Family Eye-Health History
Some eye conditions have a hereditary component.
Knowing whether close relatives have conditions such as:
- glaucoma,
- age-related macular degeneration,
- or certain inherited eye diseases
can help you and your eye-care professional assess your risk.
Share relevant family history during eye examinations.
33. Vision Changes With Age
Some vision changes become more common with age.
For example, presbyopia—difficulty focusing on close objects—becomes increasingly common after about age 40.
Other conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, become more common later in life.
Regular eye care becomes increasingly important as you age.
34. Know the Warning Signs of an Eye Emergency
Some eye symptoms require urgent assessment.
Seek urgent medical care for:
- sudden loss of vision,
- a sudden major change in vision,
- severe eye pain,
- a penetrating eye injury,
- significant chemical exposure,
- sudden new flashes of light,
- a sudden shower of new floaters,
- a dark curtain or shadow moving across your vision,
- or severe redness accompanied by pain and vision changes.
Do not wait several days hoping sudden vision loss will resolve on its own.
35. Sudden Flashes and Floaters Can Be Important
Floaters are small shapes that may appear to drift across your vision.
Many people experience harmless floaters.
However, a sudden increase in floaters, particularly when accompanied by:
- flashes of light,
- blurred vision,
- or a curtain-like shadow,
can indicate a retinal tear or retinal detachment.
This requires urgent professional assessment.
36. Eye Pain Should Not Be Ignored
Mild irritation can occur for many harmless reasons, but significant or persistent eye pain deserves evaluation.
Seek prompt care if pain is associated with:
- reduced vision,
- significant redness,
- light sensitivity,
- injury,
- chemical exposure,
- or contact-lens use.
37. Children Need Eye Care Too
Children may not realize that their vision is abnormal because they have nothing with which to compare it.
Possible signs of a vision problem can include:
- sitting unusually close to screens,
- holding books very close,
- squinting,
- frequent headaches,
- difficulty seeing distant objects,
- an eye turning inward or outward,
- or difficulty with visually demanding schoolwork.
Appropriate childhood vision screening and eye examinations can help identify problems early.
A Practical Eye-Health Checklist
To help protect your vision:
Have your eyes checked as recommended.
Never stare directly at the sun.
Wear sunglasses blocking 99–100% of UVA and UVB radiation.
Wear appropriate protective eyewear for hazardous work, DIY and sports.
Avoid smoking.
Eat a varied, nutritious diet.
Manage diabetes, hypertension and other health conditions.
Use the 20-20-20 rule during prolonged screen use.
Use contact lenses exactly as directed.
Wash your hands before touching your eyes or lenses.
Never put unapproved substances into your eyes.
Know your family's eye-health history.
Seek prompt care for persistent eye problems.
Seek urgent care for sudden vision loss, severe injury or other eye emergencies.
The Bottom Line
Protecting your eyesight requires a combination of prevention, healthy habits and timely professional care.
Some of the most important steps are straightforward: protect your eyes from ultraviolet radiation and injuries, avoid tobacco, manage conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, care for contact lenses properly and attend appropriate eye examinations.
Screens can cause temporary eye strain, but ordinary computer use does not mean you are permanently damaging your eyes. Take regular breaks and use comfortable viewing conditions.
Similarly, reading in dim light may tire your eyes but is not a proven cause of permanent vision loss.
Most importantly, do not ignore sudden or severe eye symptoms.
Sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, penetrating injuries, chemical burns, or sudden flashes and floaters with a curtain-like shadow require urgent medical assessment.
Your vision is worth protecting throughout your life.
Medical Disclaimer
This article provides general eye-health information for an international audience. It is not a substitute for examination, diagnosis or treatment by an optometrist, ophthalmologist, doctor or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Eye-care services and screening recommendations vary between countries. Seek urgent medical care for sudden vision loss, significant eye injury, chemical exposure or other potentially serious symptoms.
Sources and Further Reading
World Health Organization — Blindness and Vision Impairment
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment
World Health Organization — Eye Care, Vision Impairment and Blindness
https://www.who.int/health-topics/blindness-and-vision-loss
World Health Organization — Refractive Errors
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/blindness-and-vision-impairment-refractive-errors
National Eye Institute — Keep Your Eyes Healthy
https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/healthy-vision/how-eyes-work/keep-your-eyes-healthy
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Preventing Eye Infections When Wearing Contacts
https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/prevention/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Contact Lens-Related Eye Infections
https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/causes/index.html
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