EYECARE

It's so important to take care of your eyes, but you may not think about it very often. A good time to start is now. No matter how much makeup you put on them or how much you workout, if your eyes look tired or lack luster it will show.

Be alert for symptoms of vision problems or visual stress including frequent headaches, tired or burning eyes, blurred vision, difficulty with distance vision, difficulty reading, or doing close work, or trouble reading the blackboard at school.

Wear proper safety eye wear when doing things like using power tools, playing sports like racquetball, basketball, karate or kick boxing.

Provide adequate lighting when reading and watching TV.

Take rest breaks from visually demanding tasks and from the computer screen.

Wear proper sunglasses then outdoors and include ultraviolet radiation protection in all eye wear.

Schedule eye test every 12 - 24 months depending on opticians advice.

PROPER NUTRITION FOR YOUR EYES

Your eyes require specific vitamins and minerals to maintain optimum health and function. The typical teenage diet cannot always meet these needs in the right amounts. Current medical studies suggest that patients with several diseases of the eyes may benefit from daily dietary supplements of "antioxidant" vitamins that include: Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

Foods That Contain High Amounts of "Eye Nutrients"

Zinc
Sunflower seeds, lentils, ricotta cheese, spinach, green leafy vegetables

Selenium
Shrimp, eggs, garlic, Brazil nuts, flounder

Vitamin A
Carrots and carrot juice, sweet potato, winter squash, spinach

Vitamin C
Citrus fruit, orange juice, guava, cantaloupe

Vitamin E
Wheat germ, peanuts, eggs, cucumber, corn oil, green leafy vegetables