Many people, especially as they age, fear losing their eyesight.

Eyesight is one of the most important senses. It allows us to see the world around us, and for kids, good vision is especially important to do well in school.

Dr. Jeffrey Pitzer, a Marshfield Clinic optometrist, offers top tips to protect your vision.

“It’s very easy to incorporate some simple steps now into your daily routine that can make a big difference over time in preserving your eyesight,” he said.

1. Protect against UV rays

The sun doesn’t just pose a risk to skin. Eyes require protection as well. Wear sunglasses that block more than 95 percent of UV-A and 99 percent of UV-B radiation.

Look beyond style when picking sunglasses.

2. Limit use of digital devices

Computers, tablets, smart phones and other digital devices can increase risk for computer vision syndrome (CVS). This causes eyestrain, dry eyes, headaches, neck aches and general fatigue. When using a computer or other device, practice the 20/20/20 rule: Take breaks every 20 minutes to look at least 20 feet across the room for 20 seconds.

3. Eat a healthy diet rich in green vegetables

Green vegetables have nutrients and vitamins identified to help protect eyesight. The body doesn’t make these nutrients naturally, so it’s important to include them in your diet.

4. Follow safety recommendations for wearing contact lenses

When directions on use of proper contact lens wear are not followed, a person’s eyes can become irritated, causing blurry or fuzzy vision or even more serious, inflammation of the cornea.

5. Schedule an annual eye exam

“One of the things we stress is to have annual eye exams. It’s especially important for children for early detection of vision problems,” Pitzer said. “An eye exam before children head back to school can help prevent problems in school if a child can’t see well enough to learn.”

“We want to keep people on the path for healthy vision throughout their lives.”

Check your insurance plan to see if you are covered for an annual eye exam. For more information, contact Marshfield Clinic optometry locations.