I can see CLEARLY NOW

10 simple steps to protect your eyesight

Our sight naturally changes over the years, but there are things you can do to improve your eye health and sight.

The UK’s most common cause of sight loss, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), affects one in 12 elderly people and is sometimes linked to lifestyle, says Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones. ‘Risk factors include smoking, obesity, diet (high fat/starch, low fruit/veg) and sunlight exposure.’

The risk of other eye-health problems that can affect your sight, such as cataracts and glaucoma, can also be affected by how you live your life.

Follow these easy lifestyle tweaks to make a difference.

Wear goggles

‘Wear safety glasses when doing gardening, DIY, sport or work that could cause eye injury, such as from branches, debris or chemicals,’ says Dr Mel. wear good fitting goggles when swimming, particularly if you wear contact lenses. Serious water-related eye infections, which can cause blindness, can be cause by microscopic bacteria, which can become trapped against the eye by a contact lens so remove them when in the pool.

Eat green leafy veg every day

Make kale, spinach, cabbage, greens, Romaine lettuce, watercress and other leafy veg part of your daily diet. ‘Forget carrots,’ says optometrist Sona Thakerar, ‘it’s green leafy veg that’s best for protecting your sight.’ This is thanks to the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which help protect your retina from UV damage, improve your vision, and reduce your risk of cataracts and AMD.

Watch your weight…