According to the CDC, more than 12 million Americans over the age of 40 suffer from vision impairment. Unfortunately for all of us, it’s yet another distressing side effect that can come with aging. The good news is that there are real, concrete steps we can take to preserve our vision for as long as possible.

1. Wear Sunglasses

This may come as a surprise to some, but we don't wear sunglasses simply because they look cool or because they help us keep from squinting on blisteringly bright days.

Of course squinting is a drag, and sunglasses do look cool, but the real issue is that prolonged exposure to intensely bright UV light, the American Optometric Association argues, can cause a variety of short and long-term issues. One short-term effect of overexposure to UV light is Photokeratitis, a painful condition akin to having a sunburn on the eye. More serious, long-term issues that can result from prolonged UV exposure are cataracts and macular degeneration. (1)

So don't leave home without a strong pair of shades!

2. 20/20/20 Rule

The sheer preponderance of technology in our lives has made a lot of things easier, but it has also created a variety of health issues, and we're not just talking about back pain! While prolonged exposure to our cell phone and computer screens isn't a major issue where long-term vision damage is concerned, it can put considerable strain on our eyes, leading to blurry vision, dry eyes, and intense headaches in the short-term.

As such, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends abiding by the 20/20/20 rule, which means that, when working at your computer for a prolonged period of time, be sure that, every 20 minutes, you look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds, this will allow your eyes to rest and refocus and will go a long way toward keeping digital eye strain at bay (2).

3. Don't smoke

In case you need another reason not to smoke tobacco, the CDC argues that doing so is extremely bad for your eyes, as well as the rest of your body. In fact, according to the CDC, individuals who use tobacco are two times more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration and three times as likely to develop cataracts. So if you're a smoker and you're worried about losing your vision, the best thing you can do is quit! (3)

4. Fruits, Veggies, Nuts, and Fish

Vegetables in general, but especially leafy greens, are not only satisfying and delicious but also great for your vision! So are fruits, nuts, and fish. Why? Because studies have demonstrated that nutrients such as zinc, copper, vitamins C and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, are essential to eye health, so eat more fruits, veggies, nuts, and fish, all of which contain some combination of these vital nutrients! (4)

5. Try Lucid Vision

Whether or not you're a fan of the aforementioned foods, we can't always eat as healthy as we want to, and even when we can, an extra dose of powerful nutrients never hurt! Lucid Vision offers powerful support for vision and eye health by providing such nutrients as vitamins C and E, Zinc, Copper, and Lutein and Zeaxanthin, all of which have been proven to support stronger vision and good eye health. So do your eyes a favor and pick some up today! 

Sources: 

(1) (2) (3) (4)