Discover 10 everyday habits that can support healthy eyes, reduce eye strain, and help protect your vision at every age. Our eyes play an important role in almost everything we do from reading and working to driving, learning, using digital devices, and enjoying time with family and friends.
While some eye conditions cannot be prevented, many everyday habits can help support healthy eyes and reduce avoidable risks. Good eye care is not only about what you do when you have a problem; it is also about protecting your vision before problems become noticeable.
Here are 10 everyday habits that can help protect your vision.
1. Give Your Eyes Regular Breaks From Screens
Phones, computers, tablets, and other digital devices are now part of everyday life. Spending long periods looking at a screen can contribute to temporary symptoms such as tired eyes, dryness, blurred vision, headaches, or difficulty focusing.
One useful habit is the 20-20-20 rule:
- Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen.
- Focus on something about 20 feet away.
- Look at it for at least 20 seconds.
You can also reduce eye discomfort by adjusting your screen brightness, increasing text size when necessary, and positioning your screen at a comfortable distance.
Taking breaks does not mean you have to stop using technology. It simply gives your eyes opportunities to relax during prolonged near work.
2. Eat a Balanced Diet
What you eat can contribute to overall eye health. A balanced diet containing a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy sources of protein, and other nutrient-rich foods can provide vitamins and minerals that support normal body and eye function.
For people in Ghana, healthy choices can include a variety of locally available foods such as:
- Green leafy vegetables
- Carrots and other colourful vegetables
- Oranges and other fruits
- Eggs
- Fish
- Beans and other legumes
- Nuts and seeds
Rather than relying on a single “eye-health” food, focus on maintaining a balanced and varied diet.
If you have diabetes, maintaining good control of your blood sugar is particularly important because diabetes can affect the eyes and increase the risk of diabetic eye disease.
3. Wear Sunglasses That Provide UV Protection
Your eyes can be exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Prolonged UV exposure can contribute to certain eye problems over time. When spending extended periods outdoors, consider wearing sunglasses that provide appropriate UV protection. A wide-brimmed hat can also help reduce direct sunlight reaching your eyes.
Sunglasses are particularly useful when you are outdoors in bright conditions, but eye protection should not be limited to beach visits or holidays. Everyday exposure to strong sunlight also matters.
4. Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes Frequently
Rubbing your eyes may seem harmless, especially when they feel itchy or tired. However, frequent or vigorous rubbing can irritate the surface of the eye. If your eyes feel uncomfortable, try to identify the possible cause instead of repeatedly rubbing them. Dryness, allergies, prolonged screen use, or other eye conditions can cause irritation.
If eye discomfort persists, an eye professional can assess the cause and recommend appropriate care.
5. Practise Good Contact Lens Hygiene
Contact lenses can provide convenient vision correction, but they need proper care.
If you wear contact lenses:
- Wash and dry your hands before handling them.
- Follow the cleaning and storage instructions provided for your lenses.
- Replace lenses according to the recommended schedule.
- Avoid using lenses longer than recommended.
- Do not share contact lenses with another person.
- Follow professional advice about wearing lenses overnight or during other activities.
Poor contact lens hygiene can increase the risk of eye infections and other complications.
If your eyes become painful, significantly red, unusually sensitive to light, or your vision changes while wearing contact lenses, seek professional eye care promptly.
6. Protect Your Eyes During Risky Activities
Some eye injuries occur during work, sports, home improvement, or other activities where the eyes may be exposed to flying particles, chemicals, dust, or other hazards.
Appropriate protective eyewear can help reduce the risk of injury during activities such as:
- Working with machinery
- Cutting or grinding materials
- Handling chemicals
- Certain construction activities
- Some sporting activities
- DIY and home repair projects
Eye protection should fit properly and be appropriate for the specific activity.
Remember: preventing an eye injury is much better than dealing with its consequences afterward.
7. Keep Your Hands and Surroundings Clean
Good hygiene can help reduce the spread of infections and prevent unnecessary irritation of the eyes. Wash your hands regularly, especially before touching your eyes, applying eye products, or handling contact lenses.
It is also sensible to avoid sharing personal items that come into close contact with the eyes, such as towels, eye makeup, or contact lens equipment. If you use eye makeup, keep products clean and replace them when appropriate rather than continuing to use old or contaminated products.
8. Manage Conditions That Can Affect Your Eyes
Some health conditions can affect vision and eye health, particularly when they are not well managed. For example, diabetes can damage blood vessels in the retina and may lead to diabetic retinopathy. High blood pressure and other systemic conditions can also be associated with changes in the eyes.
If you have a condition that can affect your eyes, follow your healthcare professional’s advice and attend recommended medical and eye appointments. Importantly, some eye diseases can develop without obvious symptoms in their early stages. Feeling that your vision is normal does not always mean that your eyes are completely healthy.
9. Have Regular Eye Examinations
One of the most important habits for protecting your vision is to have your eyes examined regularly. An eye examination is not only about checking whether you need glasses. Depending on your age, symptoms, medical history, and risk factors, an eye professional may assess different aspects of your eye health.
At Accra Specialist Eye Hospital, comprehensive eye care may include clinical consultations and investigations such as:
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
- Visual field testing
- Fundus photography
- Biometry
- B-scan ultrasound
- Gonioscopy
- Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA)
- Glaucoma OCT
- Macular OCT
These investigations can help eye care professionals evaluate different parts and functions of the eye when clinically appropriate.
Regular examinations are particularly important if you have risk factors such as diabetes, a family history of certain eye diseases, previous eye problems, or changes in your vision.
10. Pay Attention to Changes in Your Vision
Your eyes can sometimes give you warning signs that should not be ignored.
Seek professional eye care if you notice changes such as:
- New or worsening blurred vision
- Persistent eye pain
- Significant redness
- New flashes of light
- A sudden increase in floaters
- Loss of part of your field of vision
- Sudden changes in vision
- Double vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Difficulty seeing that is getting worse
Some sudden eye symptoms can require urgent assessment. If you experience sudden vision loss or another significant, sudden change in your eyesight, seek immediate medical attention rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Why Everyday Eye Care Matters
Protecting your vision is not about following one perfect routine. It is about building several healthy habits into your daily life.
Taking breaks from screens, eating a balanced diet, protecting your eyes from UV exposure and injuries, practising good contact lens hygiene, managing health conditions, and having regular eye examinations can all form part of a responsible approach to eye health.
However, healthy habits cannot replace professional eye examinations. Some conditions, including glaucoma and certain retinal diseases, may progress without obvious symptoms in their early stages.
That is why prevention and early detection are both important.
Comprehensive Eye Care at Accra Specialist Eye Hospital
At Accra Specialist Eye Hospital, we provide comprehensive eye care for adults and children, supported by specialist medical expertise and advanced diagnostic technology.
Our services include:
- General ophthalmology consultations
- Glaucoma consultations
- Vitreoretinal consultations
- Cataract surgery
- Glaucoma surgery
- Retina and laser treatments
- Pediatric eye care
- Oculoplastic procedures
- Advanced diagnostic investigations
- Optical services, including refraction, spectacle lenses and contact lenses
Our multidisciplinary team includes ophthalmologists, pediatric ophthalmologists, and optometrists, allowing patients to access a wide range of eye care services under one roof.
Make Your Eye Health a Daily Priority
Your vision deserves attention long before a serious problem develops. Start with simple habits: take regular screen breaks, eat a balanced diet, protect your eyes from sunlight and injury, maintain good hygiene, and pay attention to changes in your eyesight.
Most importantly, make professional eye examinations part of your approach to long-term eye health.
Book an Eye Examination at Accra Specialist Eye Hospital
If you have concerns about your vision or would like a professional assessment, Accra Specialist Eye Hospital is available to help.
Accra Specialist Eye Hospital
49 Nii Ayi Kushie Street, Tantra Hill, Accra, Ghana
Phone: +233 50 006 0545
WhatsApp: +233 50 006 0545
Email: hello@accraspecialisteye.com
Opening Hours:
Monday–Friday: 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Saturday: 8:30 am–1:30 pm
Sunday: Closed
Please call or WhatsApp +233 50 006 0545 to confirm availability and book an appointment before visiting.
Note: This article provides general information and is not a substitute for a consultation with an eye specialist. For personalised advice, please visit or contact Accra Specialist Eye Hospital.