9 Ways To Improve Your Vision

How often do we think about our eyesight whenever we talk about our health?

According to the World Health Organization, 2.2 billion people are affected by vision impairments, out of which one billion of those impairments could have been avoided. Our eyes and eyesight are one of the delicate parts of our body. Yet, until we have reason to, most of us do not pay attention to their proper care. Don't take your eyesight for granted. Here are some ways to improve your vision.

Eat essential nutrients

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Zinc, combined with vitamins C, E, and A are all essential nutrients that can help support better eyesight. They contain antioxidants that are important in preventing macular degeneration. These nutrients can be found mainly in vegetables and fruits such as citrus fruits, carrots, sweet potato, red peppers, strawberries, spinach, and broccoli. Additionally, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like flaxseed and salmon are very important for eye health.

Keep your lenses clean

Although contact lenses help to support better eyesight, they can also become infected by germs when not handled properly. Thus, it is very important to wash your hands before touching your contact lenses. Also, ensure that you disinfect your contact lenses as regularly as instructed.

Quit smoking

As if there aren't enough reasons to quit smoking., here is one more. Smoking puts you at an increased risk of getting cataracts by damaging your optic nerve and causing macular degeneration. Instead, get more carotenoids into your system. Nutrients like zeaxanthin and lutein are important for the retina. Such nutrients can be found in eggs, leafy green vegetables, and broccoli. Although these nutrients are present in the retina as carotenoids, they can also be taken in the form of supplements.

Know your family's eye health history

In most cases, eye conditions are hereditary. Thus, it is important to know about one's family's eye health history to help take early precautionary measures to prevent future risks. Some of the hereditary eye health conditions include optic atrophy, macular degeneration related to age, retinal degeneration, and glaucoma.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise is not only important for toning your waistline, but it is also profitable for your eyesight. This is because type 2 diabetes, a condition mostly found in obese people, can damage the tiny blood vessels located in the eyes in a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. This condition causes harm to one's vision. Regular exercise and adopting a healthy and fit lifestyle is essential in preventing the risk of being overweight or obesity.

Have you heard of the 20-20-20 rule?

Just as our bodies need rest after a long day's work, our delicate eyes should also get the necessary rest. Too much strain on the eyes can (especially after working on a computer for long hours) can put the eyes at risk of developing some problems in the future. The 20-20-20 rule simply advises that one should take a 20-seconds break after staring at a screen for 20 minutes, by staring at something else 20 feet away.

Manage health conditions

Aside from diabetes, there are other conditions like multiple sclerosis and high blood pressure. Most of these conditions can cause chronic inflammation that can be harmful to every part of the body, including one's eyesight. For example, when inflammation affects the optic nerve, it can lead to both pain and loss of vision. And although some of the health conditions can be prevented, others require management with medication as well as healthy living.

Use sunglasses

As cool as sunglasses make us look, they are not only for fashion. Putting a pair of shades is one of the simplest and yet effective ways of protecting one's eyesight. Sunglasses are designed to block out harmful UV rays and radiation from the sun and the potential eye damage they are capable of causing. Aside from sunglasses, people that are suffering from certain eye conditions may be required to use prescription glasses. Visit eyeglasses.com for a collection of some of the eyeglasses available.

Invest in protective eyewear

We have already mentioned the importance of sunglasses and eyeglasses. But aside from those, there are other types of eyewear designed to protect the eyes during certain activities. For example, when you are involved in sports and recreational activities such as swimming, hunting, and shooting, having on a pair of protective eyewear can protect your eyes from unforeseen damage or accidents. Durable protective eyewear is also very important for people working in places with the risk of chemical exposure, or sharp materials such as shards of metal or wood shavings.

Are there any other eye care tips you know of that could help?