Valentine's Day is the time to express your love and appreciation to those you care about most. But it's also a great opportunity to take the time to pamper yourself — so why not start with your eyes?

10 Healthy Lifestyle Habits to Help Protect Your Eye Health and Vision

1. Be Mindful of the Food You Eat

Fill your plate with fresh fruits and veggies, lean proteins, and whole grains. Studies show that foods high in vitamins A, C, E, omega-3, lutein, and zeaxanthin are especially beneficial for promoting eye health.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day will keep your body hydrated and your eyes moist, which is essential for preventing dry eye syndrome.

3. Exercise Regularly

Cardio exercise has been shown to lower eye pressure and improve blood flow to the retina and optic nerve. So grab your gym bag and get moving!

4. Don't Smoke

Smoking tobacco significantly raises your risk of developing sight-threatening eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration.

5. Practice Good Makeup Hygiene

Clean your brushes and applicators regularly, toss expired products, only apply makeup to the outer margin of your eyelids, remove makeup before going to bed, and never share makeup with others.

6. Wear Sunglasses

Purchase a stylish pair of sunglasses with 100% UV protection and wear them any time you venture outdoors.

7. Prevent Eye Injuries

About 90% of vision loss from eye injuries can be prevented by wearing the right eye protection during sports, lawn work, and DIY projects.

8. Learn First Aid for Eye Injuries

Knowing what to do in case of an unexpected eye injury can potentially save you or someone you love from permanent eye damage or vision loss. Any type of eye injury should be taken seriously and promptly examined by an eye doctor.

9. Avoid Digital Eye Strain

Limit screen time as much as possible. If prolonged screen time is unavoidable, practice the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, focus on an image at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

10. Visit Your Eye Doctor

Regular eye exams are crucial for maintaining your eye health. With an eye exam, your eye doctor can identify early signs of sight-threatening eye diseases, enabling earlier treatment and increasing your chances for optimal results.

From all of us at Dayton Optometric Center in Kettering, Ohio, Happy Valentine's Day! Call us at (937) 228-2020 to schedule your eye exam.