AN optometrist with branches in Keighley and Cross Hills is urging people to take better care of their eyes.

Airedale Opticians says that by making small lifestyle changes, people can help protect their vision and improve their eye health.

It has issued several tips in support of National Eye Health Week, which begins on Monday (Sept 18).

Advice includes:

* Eat right for good sight. Eye-friendly nutrients found in many fruit and vegetables and fatty acids derived from fish, nuts and oils can help protect your sight.

* Quit smoking. Toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage the delicate surface and internal structure of the eye.

* Watch your weight. Maintaining a healthy weight helps preserve macular pigment density, which in turn helps protect the retina against the breakdown of cells and the onset of AMD.

* Get fit. Aerobic exercise can help increase oxygen supplies to the optic nerve and lower any pressure that builds up in the eye.

* Cover up. Exposure to UV light increases your risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration.

* Be screen smart. Avoid eye strain by using the 20-20-20 rule, especially if you're in front of a computer for long periods of time. Look 20 feet in front of you every 20 minutes for 20 seconds.

During National Eye Health Week, Airedale Opticians – in Towngate, Keighley, and Main Street, Cross Hills – is distributing information and staging demonstrations.

Also, raffles are being held to raise money for the Macular Society.