March is Save Your Vision Month and Workplace Eye Wellness Month, so here are three simple ways you can keep your eyes healthy.

1. See your eye doctor regularly.

Taking regular trips to the eye doctor is one of the best things you can do for your eyes. Eye exams can detect early signs of diseases like glaucoma that have no obvious symptoms until they’ve already damaged your vision. Eye exams can also detect signs of general health problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and cancer. Early detection of these conditions is crucial in fighting them off, and an eye exam provides a good chance for early detection.

It is no wonder that Prevent Blindness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eye health and safety, recommends that people between the ages of 20 and 64 get a complete eye exam every two to four years, and that people who are 65 years old and older get one every one to two years.

2. Adopt safe computer-viewing practices.

The Vision Council, an organization that is heavily involved in vision research and education, reports that around 80 percent of American adults use digital devices for more than two hours per day. About 60 percent of those people report experiencing symptoms of digital eye strain such as dry eyes, irritated eyes, headaches and blurred vision. Digital eye strain can be minimized by adopting the following practices:

• Place your computer screen an appropriate distance from your eyes (20 to 26 inches should do the trick).
• Turn your computer brightness down and ensure that the lighting around your computer doesn’t glare off the screen.
• Get a chair you can adjust, and raise the seat so that the screen is a little bit below your eye level.
• Wear computer glasses that block blue light.

3. Eat foods that support eye health.

Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc and vitamins C and E can help you promote eye health and avoid a variety of vision problems. Here are some of the best foods to eat to get these nutrients:

• Green, leafy vegetables like spinach and kale are packed with lutein.
• Grapefruit, oranges and Brussels sprouts are high in vitamin C.
• Seeds, nuts and wheat germ are loaded with vitamin E.
• Salmon and other fish are full of omega-3 fatty acids.

Prolonged eye health comes from everyday decisions.

You can start promoting your eye health today by scheduling your next eye doctor appointment, taking precautions to avoid or ease digital eye strain and loading up on the nutrients your eyes need. Let Save Your Vision Month and Workplace Eye Wellness Month inspire you to take your eye health into your own hands!