Our eyes are one of the most used parts of our body. Only when we are asleep are they not in use. In this modern world of smog and chemical exposure, air borne pollution, extensive sessions of television watching and computer use our poor eyes are working harder now than they ever have in history.

Does this mean we take better care of our eyes than ever before? Not necessarily. Most people will readily admit that it has been more than two years since their last eye examination.

Regular eye exams can catch eye diseases early on so that treatments can start before damage becomes irreparable. Early diagnosis also means that treatments may be less invasive and more successful than late diagnosis.

Beyond simply going in for our regular eye exams, is there anything we can do to take better care of our eyes? Yes! There are things we can do every day to help keep our eyes healthy and protected.

The first thing we must always remember is that if we are engaging in sporting activities or in work or hobbies where there is flying debris our eyes should be covered for protection. Getting something lodged in the eye is very dangerous and goggles or safety glasses can prevent that from happening. If we do get something in our eye, we should never rub it and should seek medical help to remove it.

Eyestrain is another damaging condition we repeatedly subject our eyes to. Eyestrain comes from too much television, computer, reading, needlework or any other activity that has our eyes focused and not necessarily moving around as much as they should be. It is good to take a break from these intense activities and move our eyes back and forth to give them a little exercise. The muscles that control the movement of our eyes will benefit greatly from regular use this way.

Another thing that our eyes can often benefit from is a little more moisture. Especially in the winter months when the heat from the furnace is creating a very dry environment within our home and workplace, our eyes can suffer from dryness. If you find that your eyes are dry, there are many products over the counter to help keep them moisturized. The ones that are not medicated but simply provide moisture (such as the ones that are formulated almost exactly like your natural tears are) can be extremely useful and bring great relief. If you are not sure about what kind of eye drops you should use for moisturizing, check with your pharmacist who will be happy to explain the differences between the products and recommend one for you.

One more thing to consider in eye health is our diets. What we feed our bodies (eyes and all) can have a great effect on our overall health. Getting a good balanced diet that will provide essential nutrients to all the parts of our body is very important. Our eyes in particular, need to get the vitamins and minerals that keep them healthy and functioning well.

Although we use and often over-use our eyes so much, we should be our own best friend when it comes to preserving their health. Protecting our eyes and treating them with the respect they deserve for all their hard work will help us keep them working for us as long as we need them.