We know that it's important to eat right and exercise to care for our bodies. We buy special products and take care of our skin. Brushing and flossing take care of our teeth. But what about our eyes? It's just as important to guard our eye health -- Revolution Health gives us six simple tips for healthy vision:

• Good nutrition. Inflammation is the root cause of many eye disorders, so opt for anti-inflammatory foods when possible. Avoid red meat, choose fish and other products that are rich in omega-3s, and choose monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (avoid saturated fats as much as possible). Also eat lots of green, leafy veggies -- they're high in lutein which is important for eye health.
  
• Protect your eyes from the sun. Wear sunglasses that have 100% UV protection. It can also be helpful to wear a wide-brimmed hat when at the beach or other sunny spots.
  
• Exercise. Moderate exercise has been proven to reduce intraocular pressure, a causative factor for glaucoma.
  
• Don't smoke. Smoking doesn't just damage the lungs -- it also damages blood vessels which, in turn, can deprive the eyes of much-needed oxygen.
• Minimize eye strain. Position your computer monitor properly (not too close and a bit below eye level) and use a glare guard.
  
• Have regular eye exams. Even if your vision isn't impaired, it's important to visit an eye doctor regularly. (Many people go annually, but you can ask your doctor what intervals he/she recommends.)

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Last week my son and I went to the eye doctor for a routine check up. My son's exam went without a hitch -- his prescription is a bit stronger than before, but it's no more than to be expected. My exam, however, showed a few unexpected changes.

I've noticed that the vision in my right eye hasn't been very good lately, but I blamed it on the pair of contacts I've worn much longer than I should have. It turns out that there is at bit of a problem in my right eye, or there was a bit of a problem anyway. Though I was largely asymptomatic, sometime in the past few months I had a case of Central Serous Retinopathy (CSR).

In CSR, layers of tissue near the macula become detached and serous fluid builds up underneath. Eventually, the fluid leaks out. Some people experience symptoms such as decreased night vision, problems discriminating between colors, distortion, or even loss of sight. Most often, the symptoms are temporary, resolving themselves as the CSR heals. In my case, I did experience some visual difficulties, but they were subtle enough that I didn't think anything was wrong.

Often, CSR is caused by extreme stress but it is also associated with pregnancy. In most cases, the symptoms go away in time but sometimes a degree of visual impairment remains. (That's the way it is with me. Scar tissue is causing some permanent damage, but the damage is mild.) All I know is that this gives me a good reason to take better care of my stress levels.

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Sunglasses are important year round, but especially so during summer months when we tend to spend more time outdoors. When you shop for sunglasses, one of the things that makes a big difference in price is whether or not the lens is polarized, which might lead you to believe that polarized is better for your eyes. That's not entirely true.

You need to make sure that any sunglasses you purchase block UVA and UVB rays. Polarization has nothing to do with UV -- it simply prevents glare. And, while glare can cause you to squint (which can lead to eye strain and wrinkles), the glare itself isn't doing damage to your eyes.

Surfaces that tend to cause glare are pavement and water, so polarized is often preferred for driving and boating. Personally, I like polarized lenses for running outdoors, but I know other people who are bothered by the polarization, so if you're spending big bucks on glasses for running outdoors, make sure you're familiar with the return/exchange policy.

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Americans are worried about a lot of things as they age -- weight gain and back pain, to name two -- but they aren't worried about losing their vision. That's not good, according to eye health experts, because some eye diseases don't have a lot of symptoms. February is Save Your Vision Month and the American Academy of Ophthalmology wants you to celebrate by getting a baseline exam if you are over 40. Even if you're under 40, you should talk to your ophthalmologist if you're at high risk for eye disease or if you're suffering vision loss or symptoms.

Age-related eye disease will increase as baby boomers age, so if you know someone who should be seeing an eye doctor, give them a little nudge.

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Are you a carb fan? If so, you may be at greater risk of developing cataracts compared to those that eat a low-glycemic diet, according to new research.

The report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition stated that those who eat an abundance of high glycemic index foods may be exposing themselves to a larger possibility of cataract formation, where vision becomes obscured due to cloudiness formations in the eye itself.

The researchers stated that the quantity and quality of carbohydrates in the diet may play a role in cataract formation. It's not that all carbs and all high-glycemic foods are bad, but the mass consumption of the worst kinds of high glycemic foods can be problematic for future cataract development. The research concluded that people with the highest GI diets were 77 percent more likely to develop a cataract than people with the lowest GI diets.

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Unless you belong to a small subset of people who can develop myopia, or nearsightedness, from doing "close work" or work that takes place 40cm or less from the eye, you're unlikely to damage your vision sitting in front of the computer.

The problem, however, is that eye experts aren't yet able to tell exactly who will develop myopia, and even if you're not one of them, you can develop eye strain from staring at your computer. To understand better why our eyes don't like the glaring brightness of a computer screen, take a look at this article from Scientific American. Then follow these steps to protect your eyes:

• Invest in a non-glare computer screen.
• Adjust the brightness, contrast, and text size until you can read comfortably.
• Adjust your screen so that the top of your monitor is level with your eyebrows.
• Eliminate glaring peripheral lights. To find out what these are, put your hand on your forehead and shade your eyes. Turn off the lights that you blocked out with your hand.
• Take regular breaks (which is also a great time to stretch).

Finally, if you do have vision problems, visit your eye doctor for corrective lenses. This will reduce the strain on your eyes and make you feel more comfortable.

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Americans know that eye health is important, but many don't make taking care of their eyes a priority. That's according to the American Eye-Q survey, which found that when it comes to knowledge of contact lens hygiene and eye diseases, Americans are lacking. For instance, 79% of respondents reported wearing daily contacts overnight, and more than 1/2 of those who participated didn't know that an eye exam can screen for many different diseases.

Want to improve your own "eye-Q?" Check out the Vision Learning Center at Prevent Blindness America.

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Sight is one of those most precious abilities we have, yet sadly it's one of things many people know the least about. Almost half of people surveyed said they worry more about losing their vision as they age than they do their memory or their ability to walk or hear. But at the same time only 30% of adults get their eyes checked every two years as recommended, and a whopping 79% of contact lens wearers admitted to bad habits like wearing their contacts to bed and/or wearing them longer than recommended.

What's wrong with this picture? Do you think it's because people don't know what they need to do to take care of their eyes, or just that they aren't taking it seriously?

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A recent study found that a diet high in refined sugar was linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The condition, which usually comes on later in life, affects the retina and can cause vision loss. The study found that those who had a high sugar diet were more likely to have AMD, while those with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as low-gycemic foods, had a lower incidence of the condition. This doesn't prove that diet causes AMD, but it does show a connection between diet and eye health.

Just one more reason to pay attention to what you're eating!

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If you're reading this, you're at your computer and your eye muscles are busy flexing and focusing on the screen. Computers, technology, and the online environment have really opened up our world, but working long hours at your computer can tax your eyes. Imagine standing on one foot for several hours at at time -- wouldn't you get tired? When you don't give your eyes a break, they get tired too. Fortunately, this article outlines seven easy tips to take care of your eyes during your work day.

As the article points out, 60 to 90% of computer users suffer from some sort of eye strain. You can do a lot to alleviate that strain by following their first step -- give your eyes a break. Give your eyes a quick stretch by looking out a window or down a hallway, focusing on something far away. Interestingly, the article says that looking into a mirror has the same effect, a great tip for cubicle users!

Other tips include getting up once an hour for a quick walk and glass of water, eye-friendly posture and monitor positioning, and easily enough, blinking more often to moisten eyes. I spend several hours working at the computer each week and am going to start using these tips today!

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