Dress c/o Vineyard Vines

Turning 30 was a milestone, but as my 31st birthday approaches, it’s dawning on me that I’m actually…”in my 30s”. It’s not all that scary and I have a feeling this decade is going to be the best one yet, but it does make me think twice about protecting myself in ways that I never thought to before.

I’m more religious about wearing sunscreen, I have to be a lot more careful about what I eat, and although I’ve had perfect vision for my whole life, I’m afraid to lose that so protecting my eyes has become a weird new obsessions of mine!

Here are the rules that I follow to keep my eyes healthy. Obviously I’m not an eye doctor so take it all with a grain of salt!

1. Follow the 20/20/20 rule. 

About a year ago I learned this rule and it changed my life. This is how to do it: While you’re working, look away from your computer screen every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds, trying to look at least 20 feet away. It not only gives you a quick break and something to look forward to, but it gives your eyes a break from the harsh light of your electronics I set a timer to do this so I won’t forget. It actually prevents the headaches that I used to get from staring at my screen all day!

2. Wear sunglasses. 

I definitely take a lot of heat for wearing sunglasses all the time but my eyes are sensitive and it’s hard for me to be outside in sunlight (let alone take pictures) without some serious squinting. I recently found out that (the right kind of) sunglasses not only prevent my squinting problem but block 99% of potentially harmful UVA and UVB rays.

3. Eat for your vision. 

Like many things, protecting your eyes starts from the inside out. Nutrients like omega-3s, zinc, and vitamins C have been known to help prevent age-related vision problems. Eating foods that contain these nutrients can help lead to good eye health. Here are some examples:

• Green, leafy vegetables like spinach and kale
• Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
• Eggs, nuts, beans, and other non-meat protein sources
• Grapefruits and other citrus fruits or juices

4. Get them checked.

Eyes are constantly changing, that’s why a yearly eye exam is recommended. Think about it, as a woman you never skip a year gyno visit but why is it so easy to forget an eye exam?

Don’t take your vision and the roll that your eyes play in life for granted! LensCrafters created the Eye Am Unique app to show how unique your eyes are compared to eye colors around the world. No matter what color they are, remember how important your eyes are and why it’s important to take good care of them with my tips. Discover how unique your eyes are compared to eye colors around the world here.

Check out my eye color profile below!

Thank you to LensCrafters for sponsoring this post. Every eye is as unique as the person behind it. Download the new Eye Am Unique app: http://bit.ly/eyeauios