By Mashum Mollah
Did you know that the NEI (National Eye Institue) estimates that between 2010 and 2050, the number of people affected by the most common eye diseases will double?
Why the sudden increase? Perhaps it’s our diet, or maybe it’s the hours and hours we spend looking at our devices. Whatever the reason, it’s time to take action.
We’ve all heard the myth about eating carrots…but are there any other ways to improve eyesight?
Read on for 8 proven tips on how to see better and to improve eyesight.
1. Watch What You Eat
In order to function optimally, our eyes require multiple nutrients. And your diet is important in providing them.
For instance, vitamins A, E, and C are essential to improve eyesight. The minerals of copper and zinc are likewise needed. The fatty acids found in salmon, mackerel, sardines, and cod can also boost eye health.
Current research actually shows that eating yellow, red, and green vegetables can help prevent age-related blindness. For example, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, yellow peppers, dark leafy greens, and egg yolks. Other foods that are rich in sulfur, like garlic, onions, and capers can also help your eyes.
Okay, so maybe carrots are good for your eyesight after all!
Blueberries, grapes, and goji berries also have important anti-inflammatory and antioxidants that can help to improve your vision.
2. Catch Some Zzz’s
Insufficient sleep may weaken your vision, so make sure you’re getting enough shut-eye. Sleeping allows your eyes to repair and recover from the strain of the day. A minimum of 7-8 hours of sound sleep per night is recommended.
Take a mini eye nap by putting your head back, closing your eyes, and relaxing for 3 minutes or so.
3. Pamper Your Eyes
Make sure your hands are clean and you’re feeling comfortable, and then pamper your tired eyes with a relaxing massage.
Use your middle and index fingers to press lightly on your eyes. If it’s causing you pain, then you’re pushing way too hard.
Another method is to rub your palms together to generate a little heat, then put your palms on your eyes for 5 seconds.
Massage your temples by using your knuckles. Circle 10 times in one direction, and 10 times in the other. Do the same with your forehead, the midpoint of your eyebrows, and below each eye.
If your eyes are feeling particularly tired, lie down and put some cooling cucumber over your eyelids.
3. Eye Work Out
Just like your body needs exercise to keep fit, your eyes can also benefit from some simple exercises.
Some eye exercises could include rolling your eyes. Look up and slowly circle clockwise, then anticlockwise, and do this 10 times in each direction. After a few days of this exercise, you’ll achieve the perfect eye roll!
Refine your focus by holding an object at an arm’s length away from your body. Slowly bring the object closer, and then further away keeping your eyes focused.
Regularly perform these eye exercises when you wake up and just before you go to sleep. You can also do them anytime you’re feeling fatigued.
4. Get Some Specs
An obvious and traditional choice for bad eyesight is to buy eyeglasses. Modern and individually customized glasses are available for almost every need.
Modern glasses with high refraction plastic lenses are much lighter in weight than they used to be. Most are now anti-reflective which can prevent annoying light reflections from catching your eyes.
Glasses are the most common and effective way to correct a vision problem. They also come in so many different styles that they have become more of a fashion accessory than a medical item!
5. Wear Contacts
Small, and almost invisible, contact lenses are a popular choice for many to improve eyesight.
Similar to glasses, modern custom-made contact lenses can assist almost all kinds of vision problems. They are created so that the vision is clear from all angles. And over the years they have perfected the design so that you almost can’t feel them at all.
There are different types of contact lenses. Soft lenses, daily wear lenses, extended wear lenses, disposable wear lenses, bifocal lenses, or even colored contact lenses.
Johnson and Johnson’s Acuvue Oasys are bi-weekly wear contact lenses that give you all-day comfort both in hot weather and cold. This product and many others can be bought at a great price online.
6. Opt for Laser Surgery
Laser eye surgery has been an option for about 20 years. There are several procedures available, each depending on your individual need. Meeting with a physician will help you to decide which treatment is best for you.
In some cases, you won’t even need to wear glasses or contact lenses after the procedure. However, not everyone qualifies for this kind of surgery. For example, you may not qualify if you have diabetes.
7. Permanent Lenses
A relatively new option for correcting vision impairments is to have implantable multifocal lenses. They are basically like permanent contact lenses.
The procedure is very quick and painless. And the benefits are supposed to last a lifetime. However, it is pricier than most of the other options.
Make sure to find a reputable physician to do the surgery. You may find cheaper alternatives abroad, but you could end up doing more damage than good.
8. Take a Break
If you’re working on a computer or reading for long periods of time, make sure to rest your eyes. For example, rest your eyes for 10 minutes after 50 minutes of work. And try to stop looking at devices at least two hours before you go to bed.
If you wear eyeglasses, try to reduce the amount of time you wear them.
And don’t forget to get some fresh air. Take a brisk walk, but don’t look down at your legs, look off into the distance!
How to See Better
It’s clear to see that there are several ways to help improve your vision. Some simple tricks you can just do at home, whereas others require surgery. Which tip on how to see better will you choose?
For more handy health and lifestyle hacks, make sure to check out our blog!
