Taking care of your eyes is part of your overall health. As you get older, your eyes require more and more care. This could mean the difference from needing glasses or not. From wearing sunglasses when outdoors to keeping your contacts clean, there are ways you can keep your eyes healthy. Here are 3 tips to help you do just that. 

Wear Protective Eyewear

Most eye injuries occur at home and not in the workplace like one would think. In order to avoid eye injuries, you should always wear protective gear when working on a project. Whether you are working with chemicals or debris, your eyewear should help protect your eyes from being damaged during the task. Polycarbonate plastic is the best material to use for eyewear. It is both durable and strong so your eyes remain protected. If you do work in a place that could be dangerous to your eyes, you need to make sure you have the right eyewear in place. By talking to your optometrist, they can have you fitted for a great pair of safety glasses. Your regular glasses won't do the trick in protecting your eyes. 

Eat the Right Foods

Believe or not, what you eat can impact the health of your eyes. Fruits and vegetables aren't just good for your overall health, they can help keep your eyes healthy too. Eating a well balanced meal can help prevent eye diseases such as cataracts and maculer degeneration. When trying to choose which foods are especially important to your eyes, stick with nuts, lean meat, fruits, and veggies. Spinach is one food that can actually prevent maculer degeneration and protect your eyes from harmful blue light. Another great food is nuts. They can protect your eyes from free radicals that are used to break down your eye tissue. 

Choose the Right Eyewear

If you really want to keep your eyes healthy, you need to wear the eyewear your optometrist provides for you. Contact lenses are becoming increasingly popular because most people can't even tell you're wearing them. Always use the solution that is recommended for your contacts so they remain clean. Before handling your contacts, you should wash your hands with soap and water. This will ensure your contacts are protected against dirt and debris. If your contacts do get exposed to harmful contaminates and they get in your eye, you could be faced with a serious infection. Proper handling of your eyewear is important to maintaining the health of your eyes. Talk to a professional like River Valley Eye Care for more information.