At birth, our eyes are often grey or blue, changing to any assortment of colours later.

They are the windows through which we view the world, supplying our brain with more information than any other sense. Even though losing sight is something people fear most, we generally don't look after our eyes very well, usually because of complacency, bad luck and carelessness.

Perfect (20/20) vision – sharp vision at a distance of 20 feet – is what we'd all like but there's an element of luck in having it. Some eye problems are inherited such as short sight (myopia), long sight and colour blindness.

Then there are problems associated with more serious disorders such as cataracts (cloudy lens), glaucoma (optic nerve damage) and macular degeneration (gradual loss of central vision). These can impair vision or lead to blindness. Difficulty focusing on near objects (presbyopia) as you get older is normal.

If you have diabetes, high blood pressure or smoke, your eyes are more at risk and should be checked more often.

There are many warning signs for a visit to your doctor, or specialised eye care from an optometrist or an ophthalmologist (a specialist and medical doctor): blurred or partial or temporary loss of vision, flashes of light, difficulty reading or seeing close up or at distance, frequent headaches, eye pain or redness, swelling or irritation around the eye or eyelid.

If close family members have had glaucoma, early cataracts or diabetes, you can also ask for an eye check.

Taking day-to-day care of your eyes from an early age is just as important to avoid injury, infection or adverse environmental effects. It's always important to make sure you and your children are protected with ultraviolet (UVA and B) resistant pairs of sunglasses. Too much UV can put you at risk of cataracts as well as melanoma.

Adults, and especially kids, often get conjunctivitis (eye inflammation, or pinkeye) usually because of a virus or bacteria, but also from allergies or chemicals such as chlorine.

Eye drops can help but you need to use them correctly or you can spread infection. Get good advice, and don't touch the bottle opening or dropper tip with your hands or eye and wash your hands before and after. For the same reason, women should not share eye make-up.

If you wear contacts lenses, don't use your mouth to lubricate them – even the cold sore virus can spread to the eyes – and wash hands often.

Sporty types should use protective eyewear – contact lenses and a scratched cornea often go together. If you get a foreign object in your eye, don't rub it! Flush for several minutes in the shower with lukewarm water.

If you do get injured, seek medical attention immediately, particularly if there is bleeding or loss of vision.

At work, you can reduce eye strain with good lighting, blinking often, distance gazing away from the computer and using artificial lubricating tears.

Your best protection against vision loss is regular eye checks, exercise, fruit and vegetables and not smoking.

For more information visit the Eye Centre at www.everybody.co.nz

(Published in the Sunday News, 8 November 2009)

More everybody MYHEALTH columns from Barbara Docherty

Barbara Docherty is a registered nurse and clinical lecturer at the University of Auckland School of Nursing, and writer for the everybody.co.nz website. The opinions contained herein are those of the author and not necessarily those of the publisher or sponsor. Copyright UBM Medica (NZ) Ltd.