When it comes to taking proper care of your eyes, optometrist Dr. Jeanette Lee, owner of 20/20 Optometry of Silicon Valley in San Jose, CA, is a leading expert in the treatment of eye infections, eye inflammation, eye injuries and eye disease. She is also recognized for having developed proven solutions to manage dry eyes and not just treating its symptoms.

This year marks Dr. Lee's 20th anniversary at 20/20 Optometry of Silicon Valley. Here are five tips she recommends for proper eye health:

• Maintain a healthy diet. Avoid refined carbohydrates and sugars. Instead, eat whole-grain foods, vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish and poultry. Eat red meats sparingly and drink alcohol in moderation. "Hydration is important. Drinking water works like taking eye drops. If you don't drink enough water you can't make adequate tears and you become dehydrated," said Dr. Lee, a graduate of UC Berkeley School of Optometry.
• Get plenty of sleep. Rest can rejuvenate tired eye muscles that have been strained all day looking at digital devices. "Looking at a desktop computer is like having a 5-pound weight on your eyes and looking at a phone is like placing a 15-pound weight on your eyes," Dr. Lee said.
• Give your eyes a break with the "20-20-20 Rule". When devices are used constantly, your blink rate drops and eye muscles become strained from focusing too long. The "20-20-20 Rule" simply states that for every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, you should look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Maintain proper hygiene of the eyes. Everyone has small amounts of bacteria and eyelash mites that live on the lids and lashes. The overgrowth of these can cause inflammation and infection to the eyes. Dr. Lee recommends daily washing of the eyelids and lashes with antimicrobial eyelid cleansers that come in either liquid form or cleanser wipes to kill these critters.
• Get Your Eyes Checked. The most important tip Dr. Lee recommends is scheduling a 2020 comprehensive eye exam with an American Optometrist Association (AOA) doctor of optometry as the simplest way to preserve eye health. "An AOA doctor of optometry can identify over 270 different diseases – such as diabetes, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis and some kinds of cancer – before they produce symptoms," Dr. Lee said.

Dr. Lee specializes in the treatment of Dry Eye Disease, a condition where the front of the eye becomes dry. Symptoms include burning discomfort, red eyes, and itchy or scratchy sensation in the eyes. In 2019, 20/20 Optometry launched a Dry Eye Spa offering both the MiBo Thermoflo and LipiFlow treatment for dry eye. Dry Eye Syndrome occurs when there's a deficiency of oil, water or mucus on the surface of your eyes.

In 2003, Dr. Lee and her staff launched a program called "20/20 Sight for Kids," an effort to give back to the community that had served her so well over the years. Under this program underprivileged children of financially challenged families and foster children are given free eye exams, glasses and lenses once a year if they qualify.

"To be in business for 20 years is a long time. We could not have reached this milestone without loyal patients and dedicated staff to take care of them. So it's important to give back to the community that has given us so much," Dr. Lee said.

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