The older you get, the harder it is for things to keep working as efficiently as they used to. Unfortunately, for many people, their vision is the first thing to start working against them. As you grow up, you stop seeing things as clearly, forcing many sufferers to turn to glasses. However, if you don’t want to pay for some specs, there are certain things you can do to try and improve your eyesight.
Eat better
When you were a kid, you were probably told that eating carrots would help you see in the dark. While your food might not give you night vision, your diet could have a significant influence on your eyes. That’s because certain fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that do incredible things for your vision.
For example, broccoli and eggs contain lutein and zeaxanthin which improve the pigment density in your eye. These protect your macule and make it easier to absorb UV light. Other foods like spinach, strawberries, and, of course, carrots are also great to add to your diet because they prevent the onset of macular degeneration.
Get exercising
It seems that exercise isn’t only good for your waistline. The more you work out, the likelier it is you’ll avoid developing problems with your eyesight. This is because you’re reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a disease that can play havoc with your vision.
People with this condition can develop diabetic retinopathy due to damaged blood vessels. All the sugar in your bloodstream weakens the walls of your retinal arteries, causing them to leak. Unsurprisingly, if you have blood and fluid seeping into your eye, it’s going to affect your sight.
20-20-20
Isn’t technology great? It’s made our lives so much more efficient and given us so many new ways to entertain ourselves. Unfortunately, while this tech has brought many benefits to our lives, it’s also come with its share of downsides. One particular problem is the impact it’s had on our eyes. When you spend all day staring at a screen, you’re bound to develop issues with your vision. That’s why you’re advised to follow the 20-20-20 rule.
After every 20 minutes that you’ve spent looking at your computer, you should take 20 seconds to stare at something 20 feet away. This will give your eyes some well-needed rest, so they don’t develop any problems down the line.
Protect your eyes
You probably don’t think there are many situations where you should wear eyewear, but that’s not true. If you want to protect your vision at all costs, you’d do well to have something over your eyes as often as possible. That includes when you’re just out walking on a nice day. Sunglasses aren’t merely there to help you see better in the sunshine – they’re designed to protect your vision.
If you wear them as often as possible, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding things like cataracts and pterygium. That’s because you’re warding off the UVA and UVB radiation from the sun that can be extremely harmful to your eyes.
There’s no time like the present when it comes to protecting your eyesight. The more you do now, the greater you’ll benefit in the future.