As we get older, maintaining perfect vision is next to impossible. We can try to avoid complete loss of vision or at the very least avoid it from deteriorating really early.

My Grandmother, who is 94 at the time this article is written, was a teacher and still is an avid reader, knows her vision is one of the things she needs to take care of. I’ve been observing her and taking some pointers.

Healthy diet. She was never always a pescatarian. Even before she retired from teaching, she has always been careful with her diet. She has since been eating the exact same food for lunch and dinner. She only eats fish soup, not fried or steamed, and then red rice. She always eats fruits and for her vegetables, her soup always has Malunggay (considered a superfood) in them.

Healthy lifestyle. She takes naps in the afternoon and a healthy amount of sleep every night. She allows enough rest for her body and, in turn, her eyes. My Grandmother does not smoke or go to places where there’s a ton of irritants on her health especially her eyes.

Healthy habits. My Grandmother reads the newspaper every day after lunch. She reads where there is ample reading light. When she watches the TV, she maintains a healthy distance. She also does not rub her eyes furiously when it’s itching.

While all of my Grandmother’s lifestyle and habits are still important to emulate, this era of ours is so much more different. While processed foods have always been bad for our health in general, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and habits are just not enough.

Wear protective glasses. The environment is no longer safe. UV-A and UV-B radiation have always been bad but now we have to think about LED radiation. Wear sunglasses when you are out in the daytime. Wear eyeglasses with protective coating when you are inside working in front of the computer. Wear protective glasses if the workplace can cause eye injuries.

Get regular eye check-up. Getting that annual check-up and twice a year visit to the dentist is a must. But, let’s not forget a yearly visit to an optometrist. Don’t just go when you know your eyesight is getting worse or because you frequently have bad headaches and think it is your eyes that’s giving you headaches. If you have to wear eyeglasses, get your eyes checked and get the right prescription.

Fortunately, I can still see clearly. But, digital eye strain is real. I’ve recently visited an optical store and bought an eyeglass with a blue coating in it. How are you protecting your eyesight?