As we get older, many of us look for ways to help keep our bodies healthy, such as exercising more, getting the proper amount of rest or losing a few extra pounds. But have you ever considered the health of your eyesight?

March is Save Your Vision Month, a perfect time to think about the steps we can take to protect our vision starting with the food on our plate.In addition to other health benefits, regularly eating foods rich with nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E may help promote healthy eyesight by lowering the risk for age-related macular degeneration and dry eye later in life.These foods include green, leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and collards, as well as oily fish such as salmon or tuna.Eggs, nuts, beans and other nonmeat protein sources, along with oranges and other citrus fruits or juices, are also good sources of these nutrients.Check with your health care provider if you are making big changes in your diet, especially if you are on long-term medications.Avoiding tobacco, or quitting if you are a tobacco user, is one of the best investments you can make in your health. In addition to increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke, smoking increases your risk for cataract and age-related macular degeneration.Preventing eye injuries is also an important aspect of maintaining the health of our eyesight. Did you know that nearly half of all eye injuries each year happen at home? Even a minor injury to the cornea from a small particle of dust or debris can be painful and become a life-long issue.Here are just a few examples of common household activities that can cause an eye injury:• Using household chemicals or bleach: Getting unexpectedly sprayed or splashed in the eye can cause anything from minor irritation to a chemical burn. If this happens to you, immediately flush the eye by putting your head under a steady stream of room temperature tap water for 15 minutes. Contact your eye doctor or urgent care facility to determine what is recommended as a next step based on the chemical.• Hot grease or oil splatter: As with household chemicals, the most important thing to do is irrigate the eye and contact your eye doctor as soon as possible.• Drilling or hammering into walls: An activity as simple as hanging a picture can cause a nail or screw to become a projectile or cause fragments to fly off and cause an eye injury. Seek immediate medical help if you are hit in the eye with any foreign object.• Lawn and garden care: Spring is right around the corner be sure to always wear protective eyewear when mowing the grass, trimming hedges, cutting wood or using power tools. Whether you use a ride-on or push mower, stop the engine when a child or any one approaches. The mower can cause rocks and other objects on the lawn to become projectiles.According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, an estimated 90 percent of eye injuries are preventable with the use of proper safety eyewear. But only one-third of people report that they always wear protective eyewear when doing home projects or repairs.Do yourself and your family a favor and be sure you have at least one pair of American National Standards Institute-approved protective eyewear for use at home. ANSI sets the standard for safety glasses, requiring that they have side shields and are made of ultrastrong polycarbonate that can withstand a projectile traveling up to 90 miles per hour.You should also keep eye protection top of mind when participating in sports. People often think of sprains and strains as sports-related problems, but eye injuries account for an estimated 100,000 physician visits each year for school-aged children. There are plenty of fashionable sports goggles available for children, and many popular athletes are wearing them as well.Sports aren't the only way that children can cause damage to their eyes. Darts, paint ball guns and BB guns may seem like toys, but they all have the power to cause serious injuries.Be sure to have a discussion with your youngsters about how to use these items carefully and follow all safety instructions, including protective eyewear.At Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, we know that protecting and maintaining your vision is an important part of your overall health.Remember, you only have one set of eyes be proactive and protect the gift of sight!Nina M. Taggart, MA, MD, MBA is Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Clinical Operations at Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and a practicing ophthalmologist in Hazleton.