Written By: Prerna Mittra | Published : May 19, 2025 5:36 PM IST
Medically Verified By: Dr Rohan N Dedhia, MBBS, MS (ophthalmology), FVRS retina, senior consulting ophthalmologist retina, cataract and refractive surgeon at Ojas Maxivision Eye Hospitals (Bandra and Kandivali)
Healthy Eyes: 7 Daily Habits That Can Protect Your Eyesight And Promote Vision (Photo: Freepik)
Best lifestyle hacks to care for your eyes: It is very crucial to care for the eyes and protect them, especially for people who are involved in jobs and hobbies that require focus and attention, and demand long hours of looking at computer screens. Staring at phones, laptops, tablets, and such, or not giving enough rest to the eyes can tire them, leading to strain, redness, dryness, irritation, itching, etc. Not taking proper care of the eyes can also cause other long-term health issues that may also threaten vision. But, the good news is that there are some specific things that one can do every day, which can take care of eye health, protect eyesight and even promote vision. Remember, the eyes are sensitive organs that are very important, as they allow one to function and do basic chores on a day-to-day basis.
According to Dr Rohan N Dedhia, MBBS, MS (ophthalmology), FVRS retina, senior consulting ophthalmologist retina, cataract and refractive surgeon at Ojas Maxivision Eye Hospitals (Bandra and Kandivali), here are seven simple habits that can protect your eyesight and support overall eye health; read on.
It is very important to change your overall diet if you want to take care of your vision. A healthy diet means eating foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. The doctor says these foods can protect against eye diseases. One must also eat green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, and colourful fruits like oranges and berries, besides fish like salmon, and nuts or seeds for promoting vision.
As mentioned earlier, it is important to allow your eyes to rest. Staring at screens for too long can cause eye strain. One can consider following the 20-20-20 rule, which means looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes. This will give the eyes a much-needed break, and help reduce dryness and fatigue.
Whenever you step outside the house or the office, remember to protect your eyes from sunlight. The doctor warns that too much sunlight can harm your eyes. Wear sunglasses that block 100 per cent of UVA and UVB rays whenever you are outside, even on cloudy days.
While it is not advisable to touch or rub the eyes with bare hands, if you wear contact lenses, you must always maintain hand hygiene. Wash your hands before touching your eyes or lenses, and keep your lenses clean. Follow the care instructions. Remember that dirty hands or lenses can cause infections that might damage your vision permanently.
Nothing good happens when you smoke -- it is only known to spoil your health. Smoking increases the risk of serious eye problems like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Quitting this habit can protect your eyes, and your overall health.
For the sake of your eyes and healthy vision, it is important to exercise every day. According to Dr Dedhia, being active can improve blood flow to the eyes. Regular exercise can also lower your risk of conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which can harm your vision, if they are not controlled.
Even if your eyes feel fine, visit an eye doctor every year, or at the most every two years. Eye exams can catch problems early before you notice any kind of changes in your vision.
