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Good eyesight plays an important role in your mobility and the enjoyment of life, so it's important to follow these basic steps to keep your eyes seeing clearly.

Dry eye is a common condition that many of us suffer from daily. Its symptoms include burning, irritation, redness, gritty sensation, watering, and stinging. Dry eyes may also result in infection and corneal scarring if left untreated. It can be caused by many different factors. We may have decreased tear production. We may have clogged oil glands resulting in quick tear evaporation. We may not drink enough water and too much caffeine.

We may suffer from a disease causing dry eyes. We may be on medications that dry our glands. We may live in a dry environment. We may live in a house with poor air quality. We may work in an office that uses forced air. We could go on and on. In addition to its many causes, there are also many treatments.

Your optometric care provider can suggest an over the counter lubricating artificial tear. It is important when purchasing them to avoid those that say to get the red out. "Get the red out" drops constrict your blood vessels in your eye preventing nourishment and resulting in increased symptoms. Drink more water and reduce caffeine intake is important to maintain tear production. Warm compresses opens oil glands so that the tear layer can stay on the eye longer.

Constant exposure to ultraviolet light can damage your eyes. Too much exposure increases pigmentation in the eye, causing a discoloration known as "brown" or "sunshine" cataracts. Some eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, have been linked to UV exposure.

Some small tips on improving night vision: Mix together 30 drops of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) with 8 ounces water, drink 3 times a day. Or drink 2 glasses of blueberry juice a day