From macular degeneration to the blur that comes after staring at a computer screen, eye health is no joke. Our peepers have a tendency to degrade with age, and guess what? It’s up to you to keep that vision sharp (well, partially). Research over the past few decades has shown that eye health is linked to diet and lifestyle (surprise, surprise). Being overweight, smoking, having diabetes, eating a high-fat diet, excessive alcohol consumption and low fruit and vegetable intake all increase the risk of eye diseases.

For this one pair of eyes that you’ve been given for an entire lifetime, here are five quick and easy tips that promote healthy eyes from raw foodist David ‘Avocado’ Wolfe:

1. Eat organic, green, leafy veggies (they have been known to help avoid macular degeneration). Stellar options include kale, collards and spinach.

2. Make sure you have plenty of Omega 3s in your diet (they improve eyesight and boost brain power)! 

3. Eat chocolate (the flavonoids in chocolate help protect blood vessels in your eyes. Like we need another excuse, right?)!

4. Don’t stare at a computer screen too long. Use the 20/20/20 rule. Take a break every 20 minutes. For 20 seconds, look at something 20 feet away or farther. This allows your eyes to refocus and relax and prevents the blurry vision that can occur by staring at a computer screen for too long.

5. Keep your eyes hydrated. You can do so from the inside-out by drinking your fair share of H2O. Also, don a nice pair of sunglasses with a UV filter to keep the wind from wicking the moisture from your lovely eyes. A simple saline solution can also help to lubricate and soothe eyes.

Thanks David!

image: Valentine.Ottone