5 WAYS TO LOOK AFTER YOUR EYES

1. Test2prevent “If you find something different in your vision, your local optometrist is the first port of call,” advises Rossi. A yearly check from the age of 45 years is recommended to detect changes early. While you’re at it, an annual check-up with your GP to measure your blood pressure and sugar levels will give you the upper hand. 2. Wear protective shades “Fashion sunglasses might look good, but the lenses are too small and they don’t offer you protection from UV on the sides,” says Rossi. His top picks for golf are: the Oakley G30 and Oakley Prizm, for their big, wide, polarized and rose-coloured lenses, which offer UV protection and sharp visibility for reading greens, and frames that hug your face.

“Frames that have more curve and wrap around offer your face better protection,” he says. They also minimise movement when you look down at address. 3. Go on a see-food diet Eye-friendly foods to eat regularly include: eggs, lean turkey, nuts, oily fish, oats, avocado, tomatoes, berries, oranges and leafy greens like spinach and broccoli. Why? Researchers from the Blue Mountains Eye Study found the antioxidants in these foods help protect the eyes from free-radical damage caused by UV exposure. 4. Avoid the smoke screen Did you know smokers are four times more likely to develop eye complications than non-smokers? Call the national Quitline (13 78 48) to increase your chance of quitting successfully. 5. Drink wise Researchers at the Centre for Eye Research Australia found people who drink more than two standard alcoholic drinks per day had a 20 percent increased risk of developing eye disease compared to non-drinkers. It’s thought that alcohol affects the absorption of nutrients important to the lens.