Though many people are becoming much more health-conscious nowadays, eye health still tends to fly under the radar. The health of your eyes, however, is not something that you should take for granted.

The modern lifestyle – which often involves working long hours inside of an office, spending too much time looking at screens, and not spending very much time outside – can have a negative effect on your eyesight and your overall eye health. Thankfully, there are some simple steps that you can take to help maintain and even improve the health of your eyes.

1) Take steps to prevent eye strain

Two of the largest contributing factors to eye strain are not getting enough sleep and too much time spent looking at cell phone, laptop, computer, and TV screens. If you’re doing an assignment for school or work, playing a video game, or watching a show or movie, then it’s a good idea to take a break at least every 20 minutes and give your eyes the chance to look somewhere else. Give your eyes a chance to recover by doing an activity that doesn’t involve a screen once you are finished and make sure you get enough sleep to properly rest your eyes.

2) Invest in a quality pair of sunglasses

Wearing sunglasses is the single most effective way to protect your eyes from UV damage. The sun’s UV rays, which are known to cause skin cancer, can also increase your chances of developing macular degeneration and cataracts. Look for sunglasses that provide a full 100% UV protection. If you wear corrective lenses, then you should definitely consider investing in a quality pair of prescription sunglasses, especially if you don’t wear contacts or if you simply don’t want to wear your contacts all the time.

3) Improve your diet

Improving your diet is another sure way to improve your eye health. After all, you are what you eat (and drink!). If your eyes often feel dry, then your first step should be to improve your hydration by drinking more water. Next, start putting healthier and more balanced meals on your plate. Foods that are not only good for your body but specifically good for your eyes include fish (especially salmon and tuna), leafy greens (especially collards, spinach, and kale), carrots, nuts, beans, eggs, pork, and citrus fruits.

4) Visit your optometrist

Going for a regular eye exam is highly recommended even if you don’t wear corrective lenses. On top of testing your vision, optometrists also check your eyes for signs of eye diseases such as glaucoma, which often doesn’t present any obvious symptoms before it becomes too progressed. Make sure you always visit your eye doctor if you notice any sudden changes in your vision.

5) Quit smoking

Finally, easily one of the best things you can do for your eyes is to either quit smoking or to never start smoking in the first place. Not only is smoking bad for your entire body, but it has also specifically been linked to eye health issues such as the development of cataracts, macular degeneration, and optic nerve damage.

If you want to protect your vision and your eye health as you grow older, then it’s important to start taking the steps above today. Be aware of eye strain and make a few simple positive health and lifestyle choices, and your eyes will thank you for it later.