One of the best ways to take care of your eyes is to take care of the rest of your body. Healthy choices with diet, sleep patterns, and exercise, as well as seeing the doctor for regular checkups and practicing good hygiene, can keep your body and your eyes in good shape.
There is no specific method for improving your vision without the use of corrective measures like laser surgery or prescription eyewear if you suffer from hyperopia, astigmatism, or myopia. The shape of your eyes is what determines your level of refractive error, and that cannot change with exercises or eye training.
You may be able to change the way your brain and eyes work together and therefore improve vision in certain situations. For example, children who suffer from "lazy eye," or amblyopia, can use special vision therapy techniques to help their eyes work together the way they should. This does then improve their vision.
There are things you can do naturally to boost your eye health and therefore your vision.
1. Eat for your eyes
Eating carrots is good for your vision. Although it may sound cliché, it’s not entirely wrong. Carrots are rich in vitamin A, an essential nutrient for vision. However, vitamin A isn’t the only vitamin that promotes healthy eye function. Make sure that you include foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, and zinc to your diet.
As you get older, macular degeneration can become your biggest challenge. Antioxidants can help reduce macular degeneration. As such, eat foods such as eggs, pumpkins, carrots, dark leafy greens, and sweet potatoes.
Fish is also great for your eyes. Coldwater fish such as mackerel, wild salmon, and cod are rich in DHA, a fatty acid that strengthens cell membranes, including those in your eyes.
2. Exercise for your eyes
Since eyes have muscles, they could use some exercises to remain in good shape. Eye exercises are great when done in the morning, when your eyes feel tired and before retiring to bed. If you’re consistent for a month, you may start noticing a difference.
Begin by warming your eyes for five seconds with warm palms. Do it three times. Rolling your eyes isn’t just an expression of annoyance, it can help your eye muscles too. Look up and circle your eyes about ten times in both directions.
To sharpen your focus, hold a pen at arm’s length and focus on it. Move the pen closer slowly until it’s about six inches from your nose. Redo this process ten times.
3. Full body exercise for vision
Exercising for at least twenty minutes a day is healthy for your entire body, including your eyes. Improved blood circulation is beneficial to the small blood vessels in the eyes as it removes harmful substances that may have been deposited. Exercise doesn’t have to be intense. In fact, a brisk walk is enough.
4. Rest for your eyes
Closing your eyes for just a few minutes is helpful. You can do this once an hour or many times when you’re hard at work. And if your job involves sitting in front of a computer or reading, closing your eyes can be refreshing. As simple as it sounds, this exercise can protect your eyes from over exertion or fatigue.
5. Get enough sleep
Resting your eyes for a couple of minutes isn’t enough. Your body requires regular, restful sleep. Any doctor will inform you about the importance of sleep for your health and wellbeing. When your body gets enough rest, your eyes become renewed. If you engage in intense visual activity such as working on a computer or reading a book, short breaks go a long way in helping your eyes, as it gives them a chance to rest.
6. Create eye-friendly surroundings
Plenty of things that surround us everyday can be bad for the eyes. For instance, sitting for long periods of time in front of a computer, getting swimming pool chlorine water in your eyes, using dim lighting when reading, and fluorescent lights can degrade your vision. Look out for these conditions and do all you can to reduce exposing your eyes to them.
7. Avoid smoking
Apart from being unhealthy for many reasons, smoking can contribute to blindness. Smoking can increase your chances of developing cataracts and can cause age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Additionally, smoking can reduce the number of antioxidants that are beneficial to your eyes.
8. Have regular eye exams
Most people wait until they experience vision problems to get eye exams. Sometimes, that can be too late. Getting eye exams early can help diagnose problems before they become severe. In fact, most vision defects can be corrected when detected early.
Regular vision exams can help by:
- Adjusting prescriptions for corrective lenses: Vision changes with time and the eyeglasses that were once the best diopter might be damaging your eyes now.
- Check alignment: Sometimes turned or crossed eyes can cause strain on eye muscles. Your eye doctor can help diagnose this issue early to avoid causing further damage to your eyes.
- Eye tone: Eye tone changes with age and a corrective lens can bridge any defects.
- Retina exam: Blood vessels present in the retina can be signs of diabetes. Eye exams can reveal more health issues beyond vision.
Ten best foods for eye health
1. Fish
Many fish are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
Oily fish are fish that have oil in their gut and body tissue, so eating them offers higher levels of omega-3-rich fish oil. The fish that contains the most beneficial levels of omega-3s include:
- tuna
- salmon
- trout
- mackerel
- sardines
- anchovies
- herring
Some studies have found that fish oil can reverse dry eye, including dry eye caused by spending too much time on a computer.
2. Nuts and legumes
Nuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts also contain a high level of vitamin E, which can protect the eye from age-related damage.
Nuts are available for purchase in most grocery stores and online. Nuts and legumes that are good for eye health include:
- walnuts
- Brazil nuts
- cashews
- peanuts
- lentils
Nuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts also contain a high level of vitamin E, which can protect the eye from age-related damage.
Nuts are available for purchase in most grocery stores and online. Nuts and legumes that are good for eye health include:
- walnuts
- Brazil nuts
- cashews
- peanuts
- lentils
3. Seeds
4. Citrus fruits
5. Leafy green vegetables
6. Carrots
Carrots are rich in both Vitamin A and beta carotene. Beta carotene gives carrots their orange color.
Vitamin A plays an essential role in vision. It is a component of a protein called rhodopsin, which helps the retina to absorb light.
Research on beta carotene’s role in vision is mixed, though the body needs this nutrient to make vitamin A.
Carrots are rich in both Vitamin A and beta carotene. Beta carotene gives carrots their orange color.
Vitamin A plays an essential role in vision. It is a component of a protein called rhodopsin, which helps the retina to absorb light.
Research on beta carotene’s role in vision is mixed, though the body needs this nutrient to make vitamin A.
7. Sweet potatoes
Like carrots, sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene. They are also a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E.
8. Beef
Beef is rich in zinc, which has been linked to better long-term eye health. Zinc can help delay age-related sight loss and macular degeneration.
The eye itself contains high levels of zinc, particularly in the retina, and the vascular tissue surrounding the retina.
Meats such as chicken breast and pork loin also contain zinc, but at lower levels than beef.
Beef is rich in zinc, which has been linked to better long-term eye health. Zinc can help delay age-related sight loss and macular degeneration.
The eye itself contains high levels of zinc, particularly in the retina, and the vascular tissue surrounding the retina.
Meats such as chicken breast and pork loin also contain zinc, but at lower levels than beef.
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