Proper Pupils
Healthy adults should have a dilated-eye exam every two years until age 55 and annually after that, suggests Dr. Jill Koury of the Duke Eye Center in Durham, North Carolina. Those with diabetes or hypertension and those who wear contacts or take certain medications should have exams more often. Practice good habits between visits. Always wash off makeup from your lids and lashes, and throw out mascara that has been open longer than three months because it grows bacteria. Use a lens cloth to clean glasses to avoid scratching lenses and damaging antireflective coatings. Dr. Koury points out that contact wearers can become allergic to the germicidal chemicals in their daily solution. If you notice irritation, consult your doctor. Finally, wear protective eyewear when needed.

Vitamins and Your Vision
Eating a balanced diet provides the nutrients necessary for strong eyesight. However, because we don’t always get the nourishment we need, Dr. Koury suggests taking a multivitamin each day. Which vitamins do what? Vitamin A works to prevent night blindness by helping the retina process light and darkness. Vitamins A and C also help combat cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which causes a loss in central vision. Vitamin E can both prevent cataracts and delay their growth. (For foods that benefit your body in other ways, visit myrecipes.com/eatwell.)

Made in the Shade
Wraparound sunglasses are ideal for non-eyeglass wearers because they block out most UV rays. However, many prescriptions can’t be put into that style of shade because the larger lenses cause distortion. Dr. Koury recommends clip-ons as an alternative. Look for a dark amber lens to screen out most UV rays. If you’re willing to try a more expensive option, lenses that adjust to lighting conditions (such as Transitions lenses) now get dark enough to work as shades. Wearing a hat keeps UV rays from entering through the top of your glasses and can help prevent melanoma and basal cell cancer, commonly found on eyelids.

Healthy Benefits
Eating well, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent age-related macular degeneration. Protecting your eyes from injury and seeking early treatment for problems will help your vision stay sharp.

"Vision Vitals" is from the May 2008 issue of Southern Living.