Vision may be our most important sense but many of us are neglecting our precious peepers.
Millions of people will suffer from sight problems, ranging from minor issues including red eye to more serious conditions such as glaucoma, mirror.co.uk wrote.
More than 2.5 million Brits aged over 65 have cataracts, where the lens becomes cloudy and vision is misty.
Sight complications due to obesity and diabetes are also on the rise, the UK National Health System said.
But there are small changes you can make to keep your eyes in tip-top shape so your vision stays sharp for years to come.
Spice up your food
A regular dose of vitamin A can keep your hard-working peepers in peak condition.
It helps protect the surface of the eye, known as the cornea, and wards off infections.
While it is great to pack meals full of leafy greens such as spinach and kale, spices including paprika, red pepper, cayenne and chilli powder are also a decent source of vitamin A.
Being able to see your toes over your tummy will keep your eyes on their feet longer.
A healthy diet is important to your vision because it reduces your risk of obesity, which in turn lowers your risk of diabetes.
The condition, which affects more than four million Brits, is now the leading cause of preventable sight loss.
Keep your waist trim
Being able to see your toes over your tummy will keep your eyes on their feet longer.
A healthy diet is important to your vision because it reduces your risk of obesity, which in turn lowers your risk of diabetes.
The condition, which affects more than four million Brits, is now the leading cause of preventable sight loss.
It can cause a problem known as diabetic retinopathy, which damages blood vessels at the back of the eye.
Go easy on the heating
Dry eye is a common and uncomfortable condition, particularly among those aged over 65, and it is made worse by cranking up the heating.
It occurs when your eyes do not make enough tears.
Although it is not serious it can make your eyes feel itchy or irritated, which can then lead to blurry vision.
Opening the windows for a few minutes, even on a cold day, will reduce your risk of dry eyes, as will turning down your heating by a few degrees.
But if you cannot stand a blast of cold, try using a humidifier to keep the air and your eyes moist.
Ban the tanners
Sunbathing or using sun beds has been linked to all kinds of health problems, including skin cancer. But the UV rays that tan your skin can also severely damage your vision.
UV light exposure increases the long-term risk of developing conditions such as cataracts and benign growths on your eyelids.
The best way to avoid UV rays is to stick to the spray tan.
But if you do use a sun bed or spend much time in direct sunlight, it is a wise idea to wear dark glasses to protect your eyes.
20-20-20 vision
Using a phone or tablet screen for a long time is tiring for your eyes and can lead to dry eye.
To combat this, you can apply the 20-20-20 rule — every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Not only will this give your eye muscles a rest, but it will open your eyes up to what is going on in the world around you.
