As spring gets going and ever fewer days remain until summer, many try to eat healthier, move more actively or pamper skin tired after winter, but people often forget to take care of one of the most important organs – the eyes. Our eyes also require daily care. Especially in spring, when various environmental irritants start to affect the eyes far more actively: pollen, dry air, environmental pollution and bright sunlight. These factors can trigger eye fatigue, dryness, watering or even various inflammatory conditions. To avoid this, it's enough to follow a few simple rules:

Wear glasses. Everyone knows well that the ultraviolet (UV) rays arriving with sunlight increase the risk of skin cancer, but we often don't consider that these rays can damage not only the skin but also the eyes, and trigger conditions such as cataract or corneal inflammation. Dark sunglasses aren't just a fashionable accessory. As soon as the first rays of sun appear, it's advisable to wear glasses that protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays. Specialists advise choosing glasses with 100% UV blocking and wearing them even when you're in the shade. Also remember that even if you wear contact lenses that protect against UV rays, you still need to take care of glasses too, because lenses cover and protect only part of the eye.

Take care of children's eyes. As the weather warms up, little ones spend more and more time outdoors. Keep in mind that children are far more sensitive to retinal damage caused by UV rays than adults – a child's eye lens is clearer than an adult's, so UV rays penetrate the eyes far more easily and quickly. For this reason, take care of little ones' eye protection and encourage them to go outdoors on sunny days with a cap and quality sunglasses.

Spend less time in front of screens. Ophthalmologists warn that perhaps the biggest enemy of the eyes these days is the screens of computers, mobile phones and other smart devices. Modern people spend long hours working at a computer or with their gaze fixed on a mobile phone screen, so not enough time is spent looking into the distance. For this reason the eyes dry out and weaken, and the risk of various refractive errors – short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism – increases. An even greater threat arises when bright spring sunlight blazes through the windows, so a computer monitor shouldn't be placed facing a window, as additional light reflections irritate the eyes even more.

Think about what you eat. To keep the eyes healthy and strong, protecting yourself from harmful sunlight alone isn't enough – you should also take care of your diet, because the eyes must get all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. Vitamins E and C are essential for producing the mucus that keeps the eyes moist, and you can replenish the body's stores of them by including more vegetable oils, peanuts, sunflower and sesame seeds in your diet. You'll get significant amounts of vitamin C if you eat more pineapples, kiwis, red peppers, leafy vegetables, cauliflower and broccoli. Another element very important for vision is vitamin A, which plays a crucial role in the eye's retina distinguishing light, dark and colours. This vitamin creates barriers to bacteria and viruses, so it helps the eyes guard against various infections. Vitamin A is plentiful in chicken liver, milk, cheese and various colourful vegetables. If you suffer from dry eyes, when sunlight becomes stronger it's advisable to get eye drops with vitamin A. Using these drops is an effective way to help protect the cornea, treat eye inflammations and prevent age-related eye diseases.