Your eyes are one of the most sensitive organs in our body and are susceptible to a myriad of eye diseases. Some of the common eye diseases that can cause temporary or permanent damage to the eyes are cataracts, glaucoma, retinal disorders and eye infections.

Here a few steps that you can take in order to protect yourself from the more common eye diseases:

– Hygiene of the eye is a must in protecting it from various types of bacterial or viral attacks. You need to wash your eyes regularly with clean, cool water and pat them dry. You need to use proper eyeglasses or contacts that are cleaned on a regular basis. Proper hygiene of the eyes would definitely protect them from most types of eye infections.

– You need to pay regular visits to the doctor and get your eyes checked thoroughly. An eye doctor or ophthalmologist will be able to look into your eyes in a way that isn’t possible with just a typical general checkup from your regular doctor. It is often important that your pupils be dilated so that forms of eye disease can be detected properly.

– You need to maintain a healthy diet and eat foods that would help to provide the body with the right minerals and vitamins. Carotenoids and antioxidants are proven to be essential to the health of the retina, blood vessels and other parts of the eye. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain these nutrients, but many people don’t get enough fruits and vegetables, so a supplement that contains nutrients specifically for the eyes would be an excellent addition to your daily regimen. Omega 3 fatty acids, or essential fatty acids that are found in fish, are also very helpful for the health of the eyes.

– It is very important to keep the body weight under control as overweight people are more vulnerable to problems like diabetes that can have an adverse effect on the eyes resulting in eye diseases, cataracts or vision loss.

– It is a must that you wear protective gear for the eyes while you drive or are engaged in recreational or sport activities. Safety glasses or goggles can give you proper protection for the eyes from any foreign objects, dirt, dust and other harmful substances. Protective eyewear is especially designed to provide complete protection to the eyes.

– Smoking is not only injurious to the lungs and circulatory system, but it is also very harmful for the eyes. The eye muscles can get strained and this can result in cataracts, damage to the optic nerve and other diseases.

– Sunglasses not only look cool but they are vital for protection from sunlight and glare, which can be damaging and dangerous to the eyes.

– Rest is a must for the eye muscles to recover from any form of stress and it is essential to give adequate rest to the eyes in order to avoid problems in the future.

– Eye exercises are a great way to keep your eyes in shape. There are many books and DVD’s on the market that give your eyes, like your body, a proper workout to keep them in optimum condition.