Looking after your eyes

Surveys show that people fear losing their sight more than any other sense. Yet those of us with good vision often find it so hard to imagine life without it that we tend to take it for granted. The mere fact that around 120 people every day lose their sight through injury or disease in the UK alone means that we should be anything but complacent when it comes to looking after our sight. Here are some ways you can do just that.

Eye safety

Almost 50 per cent of eye injuries occur in the home and a staggering 20,000 eye accidents a year – one every 25 minutes! – happen as a direct result of DIY.

Occupational risks to eye health can be less obvious. For example, prolonged use of a computer screen can result in what has become known as computer vision syndrome (CVS).

As for sports, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) estimates that squash balls alone are responsible for 2,000 hospital admissions in the UK each year.

For more in-depth information about keeping your eyes safe visit - eye safety.

Sunglasses

Many people are still unaware that their eyesight can be damaged simply through exposure to the sun. Yet the fact is that the ultraviolet component of sunlight may contribute to cataracts, cornea damage and even macular degeneration, the UK’s biggest cause of sight loss.

To stay safe in the sun, all you need is a pair of good sunglasses. They don’t have to be expensive, but they do have to carry the CE mark, which shows that they conform to European safety standards. Visit - sight and the sun to find out more about the sun's effects on vision.

Food

You’ve heard of health food, but have you heard of eye health food? A rapidly growing body of evidence seems to indicate that certain substances, called lutein, and its variant zeaxanthin, help protect the eyes against the harmful effects of the sun and may help prevent the onset of eye disease.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in a lot of everyday foods. To find out which foods may help safeguard your sight, visit - diet and vision.

When things do go wrong

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, sometimes things do go wrong. Because of this, one of the best ways to look after your sight is to go for regular eye tests.