Eye Info

Keep your eyes happy

Summary: About how you can take care of your eyes and your sight.

• Happy eyes? Appearances can be deceptive
• Keeping your eyes happy
• Real life stories
• How RNIB has helped
• Sources of help

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Happy eyes? Appearances can be deceptive

Your eyes might look great and your eyesight might be fine, but that doesn't necessarily mean your eyes are healthy.

Some sight-threatening conditions, such as glaucoma, have no symptoms and could cause you to lose up to 40 per cent of your sight before you notice a difference. An eye test could pick up these conditions and save your sight.

Contact your local optician now to book an appointment. You can search for an optician near you on the NHS Choices website.

Keeping your eyes happy

Between regular eye tests there are a few things you can do to keep your eyes healthy and happy.

1. Stop smoking
Did you know smoking can double the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the UK's leading cause of sight loss? In fact, the link is as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer. Speak to your GP about stopping smoking. Find out more about smoking and sight loss.

2. Keep your eyes covered in the sun
UVA and UVB rays in sunlight can harm your eyes and may increase the risk of cataracts and AMD. Wearing sunglasses, glasses or contact lenses with built in UV filter will protect your eyes. Only buy sunglasses that have a CE mark or carry British Standard BSEN 1836:1997. Find out more about protecting your eyes in the sun.

3. Eat healthily and watch your weight
Eating a diet low in saturated fats but rich in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli may help protect against cataracts and AMD. Oranges, kiwis, nuts, seeds and oily fish may also help prevent and slow down some eye conditions. Taking supplements is not a substitute for a healthy diet. It is important to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can increase the risk of developing diabetes, which in turn could lead to sight loss. Find out more about nutrition and the eye and the link between obesity and sight loss.

4. Safety first
DIY causes thousands of eye related injuries each year. Always wear safety goggles (European Standard BS EN 166) to protect your eyes from flying debris and fine particles. Sport (especially racquet-based sports) also causes lots of eye related injuries each year. Investing in a good pair of protective sports goggles will help prevent serious damage to your eyes.

Safe eyes are happy eyes.

Real life stories

Visit our real life stories page and hear why Barrie, Trevor and Will are recommending that everyone should look after their eye health.

Listen to our latest RNIB podcast for more tips and advice on how to keep your eyes healthy and happy.

How RNIB has helped

Did you know...

• RNIB successfully fought to make sight-saving treatment available on the NHS. Now nobody with wet AMD - one of the UK's leading causes of blindness - should needlessly lose their sight.
• RNIB helped secure free eye tests for everyone in Scotland.

You can help us do more. Every day 100 people will start to lose their sight. Knowing that we can rely on your support throughout the year means we can plan ahead and develop new projects.

Find out more about our latest fundraising appeal and other ways you can support us.

Sources of help

If you would like to speak to someone in our eye health information service, or if you have any queries about your eye sight, please contact our Helpline (helpline@rnib.org.uk / 0845 766 9999 or 020 7388 2525).

You can also contact our Eye Health Information Service:

RNIB Eye Health Information Service
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Telephone 020 7388 1266
Email eyehealth@rnib.org.uk

Content author: eyehealth@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13