Natural Ways To Improve Eyesight

A wide variety of factors, such as age, environment, and family history can all have an effect on our eyesight. According to the CDC, about 12 million people aged 40 or older suffer from some form of visual impairment. As we grow older, our eyes are bound to deteriorate in some way, shape or form, but there are ways to improve our eyesight without surgery or glasses. Here are a few ways to naturally improve your eyesight!

Sleep

Sleep is incredibly important for a huge range of our bodily functions, especially eyesight. A lack of sleep can cause a large amount of strain on our eyes and cause them to become dry and gritty. Sleeping for a healthy amount of time (about 8 hours) every night can rejuvenate the eyes and decrease tired eyes, which improves vision. 

The 20-20-20 Rule

Screen time and device use can be huge strains on our eyes. Digital eye strain can cause a variety of problems such as headaches, neck strain, and decreased vision. It is recommended by the American Optometric Association that if you spend hours on your devices, you should be taking breaks every 20 minutes, to stare at something 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. Remember this rule to avoid digital eye strain and additional associated problems. 

Vitamins + Minerals

Vitamins and minerals can be very beneficial for our entire bodies, but it is exceptionally important for our eyes. Vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral zinc can all help prevent eye problems including macular degeneration which can cause central vision loss. These vitamins and minerals can be found in a wide variety of foods such as carrots, strawberries, and sweet potato. Foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, are also great for improving eye health. 

Carotenoids

The word “carotenoids” probably sounds scary and confusing, but it’s actually quite a familiar concept in our lives. Carotenoids are the plant pigment responsible for giving fruits and veggies, such as carrots, squash and lemons an orange, red, or yellow color. Carotenoids help protect the macula by improving pigment density, which is just a fancy way of saying they  absorb harmful ultraviolet and blue light. Most carotenoids also contain vitamin A, which is essential to normal health and development for eyes. 

Exercise

 Exercise can do more good than just helping out your waistline. It actually can improve your eyesight as well! Exercising regularly can improve the circulation of blood and oxygen to the eyes. With increased circulation, your eyes have an easier time producing moisture and will therefore eliminate or greatly decrease dry eyes. 

Quit Smoking

Smoking can affect your body in all sorts of terrible ways, but we bet you never thought about how it’s affecting your eyes. Smoking can decrease the circulation of blood and oxygen to your eyes and can cause dry and irritated eyes. Additionally, smoking can dramatically increase your chances of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. Luckily for your eyes, quitting smoking can help your eyes recover from years of damage in just the first few hours.The longer that you keep away from cigarettes, the more that your eyes will benefit because your blood vessels will reduce inflammation. 

Keeping Clean

Eyes are especially prone to infection and are very vulnerable to germs. Things that do something as simple as irritate your eyes can lead to much more and affect your vision. Because of this, you should always wash your hands before touching your eyes and make sure that your contact lenses are disinfected before placing them in your eye. Touching your eyes or contact lenses with dirty hands can lead to bacterial infections of the eye and ultimately lead to vision problems down the line. 

Eyewear

Eyewear is one of the most important aspects of keeping your eyes safe. When involved with chemicals, sharp objects or materials that could be hazardous, it is important to wear tough and protective eyewear to avoid any materials getting into your eyes. You should also be wearing eyewear to protect your eyes from the sun! Sunglasses are for more than just being stylish. Sunglasses should be used to block out UV radiation and you should look for frames that are 99 or 100 percent UV protection. Wearing sunglasses can protect your eyes from a wide variety of problems that can stem from sun exposure, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium.  

Summary

While it’s impossible to prevent our eyes from getting older, there are many ways to keep our eyes healthy for longer; whether it’s quitting smoking or just hitting the gym a few times a week. Diet, sleep, and washing your hands regularly can all improve your eyesight and help take care of your eyes. Just remember to keep clean, stay healthy, and always protect your eyes. You can always rely on Fuse to keep your eyes protected!