How to have healthier eyes

We often see our sight decline as inevitable, but taking care now can actually protect your vision for years to come.

- BROOKE LE POER TRENCH

TO stay safe over the past two years, we've missed a lot of regular check-ups - eye exams included. As a result, says Dr Angela Jennings, an ophthalmologist at PersonalEYES, many people feel that their sight has deteriorated. "Conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration are usually detected on routine testing, so these conditions are sometimes being picked up later than is ideal," she says, noting that people with glasses may also be straining eyes with prescriptions that need updating. The fix is easy: book in an eye check. Beyond that, take care with the following tips to help future-proof your vision and eye health.

1 Pay attention

There are eye conditions Dr. Jennings insists you shouldn't ignore. These include flashing lights, fading colors, seeing "halos" around lights, and persistent light sensitivity. One reason is that these are symptoms of early-stage cataracts (a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye) that should be checked and treated by an ophthalmologist, usually with glasses and sometimes with surgery.

2 Eat smart