One day, you’re out driving, and you miss your turn because you can’t read the street sign. The next, you find yourself squinting to decipher the words in your newspaper. Are the font sizes changing? Or are your eyes getting worse?
As we age, we often notice signs of deteriorating vision.
While many believe you can’t reverse the course of nature, there are plenty of ways to improve your eyesight.
Even if 20/20 vision is already in your rearview mirror, it’s never too late to get back on the road to good vision. In this short guide, we’ll go over five ways you can keep your peepers perky for years to come.
Eat Your Veggies
You know the importance of a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner for your general health—but did you know that your diet can also affect your vision?
Like your other organs, your eyes need specific vitamins and minerals to replenish tissue and combat cellular damage.
These include:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Niacin
- Omega 3 fatty acids
You can take these as supplements, but all are readily available in fruits and vegetables. Additionally, most nutritionists recommend a balanced diet over vitamins and supplements.
The best foods for your eyes include avocado, Brussels sprouts, carrot, coconut, and walnuts.
#2 Practice the 20-20-20 Rule
When you’re stressed about work, it can be hard to look up from your device. But believe it or not, staring at a single point eighteen inches in front of you all day long isn’t exactly great for your eye health!
Much like our muscles, our eyes thrive when they’re active rather than sedentary. Hence the 20-20-20 rule.
What do these twenties refer to?
- Once every 20 minutes…
- Get up from your computer and focus on a point 20 feet or more away from you
- And keep your vision trained at that distance for a minimum of 20 seconds
This is just enough to give your eyes a break from the screen.
For bonus points, go on a walk without looking at your phone. Instead, take in Mother Nature, which benefits your mental health along with your peepers.
Use Blue-Light-Blocking Glasses
Maybe you’re already avoiding the bright, blue-tinted light emanating from your screen because you know it can keep you awake well past bedtime.
But did you know that blue light can also cause damage to your retina?
To filter out these harmful hues, invest in a pair of blue light glasses. To make sure you remember to wear them, keep them next to your computer for easy access. After a few days, it’ll be second nature and in no time, you’ll notice the difference in how much better your eyes feel after a long day typing away.
Illuminate Your Space
The wrong kind of light can damage your eyes. So can insufficient light—all that squinting and straining to see can take a toll over time.
Give your home an upgrade with an eye towards your lighting needs.
- Do you frequently read, write, or knit in a dark living room? Go ahead and invest in an extra lamp!
- If you read in bed at night, consider getting a book light to illuminate the page directly.
- Install extra lighting under your cabinets to keep your eyes healthy while cooking and baking.
Wear Sunglasses
Too little light is an issue, but so is too much. Yes, we know, your eyes have a bit of Goldilocks syndrome. But luckily, sunglasses make it easy to protect your eyes from damaging UV rays and look cool in the process.
If you wear prescription glasses, we highly recommend prescription sunglasses or transitional lenses, which make it more likely that you’ll don your shades when you need them.
For a little extra protection for the delicate skin around your eyes, you can use specially formulated mineral SPF eye cream to help reflect away harmful UV rays.
Stay Focused on Your Eye Health
They say that your eyes are the window to your soul. And you don’t want those windows to be foggy!
All metaphors aside, your eyes play a vital role in your everyday activity, from helping you discern the expression on a loved one’s face to reading this article.
That’s why it pays off to use the top five tips on improving your vision!