Eyes are the most expressive and most beautiful part of a person’s body. They not only let you express your inner thoughts through them, but are also an important means of witnessing the beautiful world around you.
Eyes are, no doubt, the most used part of one’s body. As soon as you wake up in the morning, you start using your eyes and keep on using them until you have finally gone back to sleep again.
Your eyes never get tired and or stop working. Even if we strain them, they are ready to function at any time of the day (or night!)
Due to their non-stop usage, and constant exposure to all kinds of radiations – from the sunlight, our computer screens, our mobiles, and the normal lighting system used in our homes, our eyes often tend to get exhausted and tired.
When eyes get tired, the person experiences headaches, sometimes even migraines, vertigo, eye strain, and eye puffiness. These signs, although not exactly harmful, can cause eye damage if persisted for a long time. Therefore, you must keep your eyes on priority and take every possible measure to keep your eyesight healthy and normal.
People who wear glasses too should take care of their eyesight so that their prescription numbers stay well-maintained and balanced.
Enlisted below are some best ways to keep your eyesight and vision health. We recommend that you make a habit of at least following one or two of these practices daily.
1. Eat Healthily
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Diet has a strong influence on your eyesight. Fruits and vegetables are enriched with natural antioxidants and vitamin complexes that are necessary for you to keep your eyesight healthy.
You should make a habit of adding raw, uncooked vegetables and fruits in your diet, as they are beneficial for you in so many ways.
Green leafy vegetables, fish (tuna, salmon, etc.), citrus fruits, etc. are a good option, to begin with.
Fruits and vegetables are not only beneficial for your eyesight, but they would also help you in preventing the development of eye-damaging conditions like cataract, macular degeneration, etc.
2. Take Breaks During Screen-Time
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Nowadays, screen-time is a must for everyone. You cannot avoid it, even if you want. However, you can always opt for a ‘healthier’ screen-time.
For this, you need to take a break after every 20 minutes that you have focused on the computer screen. This break should last for 5-10 minutes at least.
During this break, you should try your best to give an ample amount of rest to your eyes. Massage them while closed, or just look at the sky to give your eyes a cooling effect. Or you can just walk around, and take a break from staring at the screen for some time.
3. Protect Them from the Sun
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Eyes are very much vulnerable to sunlight, and the harmful ultraviolet radiation can damage your eyes too. So, in such a situation, it is always best to protect them by wearing shades or goggles so that they are least exposed to the Sun.
4. Wash Eyes with Cold Water
Yes, this is very much true. Whenever you feel as if your eyes are getting red, or your vision is getting hazy or blurred, do not ever make the mistake of splashing it with hot water.
Instead, always use cold water or even, iced water to splash your eyes with. This has a cooling and soothing effect on the eyes. Hot water just adds to the inflammation or burning sensation that you might already be experiencing at that time.
5. Stay Healthy
Did you know that the majority of the eye-related problems are because of diabetes and hypertension? These comorbidities add to the bulk of your deteriorating health and cause your normal systems to start malfunctioning.
But, when you will keep care of yourself, and try to avoid these conditions from ruining your health, you will be doing yourself an indirect favor.
6. Don’t Forget Your Vitamins and Carotenoids
If you think that you are not getting enough nutrition from your fruit and vegetable resources (reason being you not eating enough of them!), then you can always opt for supplements.
Multivitamins, zinc, and carotenoid-based supplements are easily available in the markets, and you can always opt for them as a healthier option.
So, taking care of your eyes and maintaining your eyesight at a balanced level lies within your hands. You can choose to either protect your eyes or do everything you can to deteriorate them. However, all the measures that we have enlisted above can surely help you in taking great care of your eyes, and in making them stay in a healthy and good working condition.
Bonus video: 6 Tips to keep your eyes healthy
FAQs
How can I improve my eyesight naturally?
- Eat a balanced and healthy diet rich in antioxidants and vitamin A.
- Get enough sleep.
- Exercise regularly.
- Protect your eyes from the sun.
- Wear eye protection when doing anything that could potentially lead to eye injury.
- Take breaks from screen time.
- Obtain regular eye exams.
What foods are bad for your eyes?
- Condiments, Toppings, and Dressings. The toppings that you likely store in your refrigerator doors like mayonnaise, salad dressing, or jelly, are all high in fat.
- White or Plain Colored Foods. Think about the white foods that you eat: pasta, white bread, rice, and flour tortillas.
- Fatty Meats
- Margarine
- Saturated Fats
How can I improve my eyesight in 7 days?
Top 8 ways to improve vision over 50
- Eat for your eyes. Eating carrots is good for your vision.
- Exercise for your eyes. Since eyes have muscles, they could use some exercises to remain in good shape.
- Full body exercise for vision.
- Rest for your eyes
- Get enough sleep
- Create eye-friendly surroundings
- Avoid smoking
- Have regular eye exams
Which vitamin is best for eyes?
Vitamin A and vision make potent allies. Carrots contain lots of beta carotene and Vitamin A, which can contribute to your eyes’ health and may provide a fantastic source of eye vitamins for macular degeneration and cataracts. Good sources of Vitamin A and rhodopsin are also abundant in carrots.
What causes bad eyesight?
What is the 20/20 rule?
Try your best to remember to follow the 20-20-20 rule. Set a timer to remind you to look away every 20 minutes at an object that is about 20 feet away for a full 20 seconds
Which fruit juice is good for the eyes?
Carrots contain lots of beta-carotene that converts to vitamin A, which is important for overall eye health. Beets contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which support macular and retinal health. Apples are rich in bioflavonoids, which are also known for boosting vision health.
Is banana good for eyes?
Eating a banana daily is likely to boost eye health and prevent vision-related diseases, a study has found. Researchers have found that bananas have carotenoid — a compound that turns fruits and vegetables red, orange or yellow and are converted into vitamin A, important precursors for eye health.
Is milk good for eyes?
Milk is a good source of riboflavin and can help to reduce your risk of cataracts. It is also fortified with vitamin A, a leading performer among eye health vitamins. Choose low-fat milk over whole milk to keep the saturated fat low and prevent plaque buildup in the eyes’ blood vessels
Are eggs bad for your eyes?
Eggs are a great food to eat for eye health. The yolks contain vitamin A, lutein, zeaxanthin, and zinc, which are all vital to eye health. Vitamin A safeguards the cornea. The cornea is the surface of the eye.
References:
- Rasmussen HM, Johnson EJ. Nutrients for the aging eye. Clin Interv Aging. 2013;8:741-748. doi:10.2147/CIA.S45399
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Committee on Public Health Approaches to Reduce Vision Impairment and Promote Eye Health; Welp A, Woodbury RB, McCoy MA, et al., editors. Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2016 Sep 15. Summary. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK402361/
- Grover AK, Samson SE. Antioxidants and vision health: facts and fiction. Mol Cell Biochem. 2014;388(1-2):173-183. doi:10.1007/s11010-013-1908-z
- Alexander RL Jr, Miller NA, Cotch MF, Janiszewski R. Factors that influence the receipt of eye care. Am J Health Behav. 2008;32(5):547-556. doi:10.5555/ajhb.2008.32.5.547