How to keep your eyes healthy
In this section
Getting the treatment you need
NHS England successfully treats hundreds of thousands of people with eye conditions every year. Even so, occasionally, blind or partially sighted people, and people at risk of sight loss, find it difficult to get the information or timely treatment they need, or are just not treated well.
How the eye works
We need light to see what is around us and to see colour. Light bounces off the objects we look at and different objects reflect different amounts of light, which we see as different colours. The different parts of the eye work together to turn these light rays into images.
Eye examinations
Most people should have their eyes tested at least once every two years.
Protect your eyes from the sun
Research suggests that the harmful UVA and UVB rays contained in sunlight may be a factor in several eye diseases, in particular cataracts.
Smoking and sight loss
Smokers double their risk of developing AMD, one of the UK's leading causes of sight loss
Eye safety
Accidents involving the eyes can have potentially sight-threatening consequences. There are a few simple things that can be done to lessen the risk of activities that may lead to eye damage or accidents.
Looking after your eyes
Having a regular eye examination (eye test) with your optometrist (optician) is the best way to make sure that your eyes are healthy.
