Good eyesight starts with you! Follow these tips to take care of your eyes.

1. Eat right to protect your sight
Keep your eyes healthy by eating a well-balanced diet. Load up on different types of fruits and veggies, especially leafy greens like spinach and kale. Fish like salmon and tuna have been shown to help your eyes, too.

2. Get moving
Individuals who exercise often have a healthier body weight. Being overweight or obese can put you at higher risk for diabetes and other conditions that can lead to vision problems.

3. Maintain your blood sugar levels
90% of blindness caused by diabetes is preventable. Manage your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol—also known as the ABCs of diabetes – to prevent eye problems.

4. Wear your glasses
Your eyeglasses help you see better and can help correct refractive errors.

5. Keep the germs away
Always wash your hands before putting them close to your eyes, especially if you are putting in or taking out contact lenses. Also, clean your contact lens properly.

6. Gear up
Wear the right protection to keep your eyes safe when playing your favorite sport, using chemicals in your toilet, or mowing the lawn. Practice workplace eye safety. Many eye injuries can be prevented with better safety habits, such as using protective eyewear.

7. Wear your shades
The sun’s rays can hurt your eyes. Choose sunglasses that block 99% or 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation from the sun. And remember, you should never look directly at the sun.

8. Give your eyes a break
Staring at a computer, phone, or TV screen for too long can tire your eyes. Give your eyes a rest with the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

9. Say no to smoking
Smoking can put you at risk for some serious eye issues, which can lead to blindness.

10. Know your family’s eye health history
Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It is important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition, since many are hereditary. This information will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.

11. Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam
When it comes to common vision problems, some people do not realize they could see better with glasses or contact lenses. In addition, many common eye diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration, often have no warning signs. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages. Likewise, speak to an eye care professional if you have issues like blurry vision, squinting a lot and trouble seeing things.