It seems that every few months there is a new idea to improve your eyesight without resorting to glasses, contact lenses or surgery. But can you really improve and protect your eyesight naturally?
It’s a sad fact of life that one of the unfortunate side effects of aging is the decline in our eyesight. In fact it is often the first thing that is noticeable and makes us admit that we are not as young as we used to be.There are many different suggestions of ways to improve your eyesight. Here are some tips that you may want to try.
These are suggestions only and do not constitute a medical opinion of the usefulness or importance of each method. Obviously the first port of call should be to an optician for a check up. Regular eye checks are a good idea not only for your eyes but other health problems can be picked up at an early stage by changes in the eyes.
Can You Improve And Protect Eyesight Naturally?
The most common age related eye problem is presbyopia. This affects all of us to a certain extent as we age. Presbyopia is caused by the hardening of the lens in the eye which makes it less elastic and restricts it’s ability to focus on close objects.
Close objects will become blurry and you will need to move the object further away to get it in to focus. The fact that this is associated with getting older means people often don’t want to admit the problem exists. You may have heard people say that there is nothing wrong with their eyesight it’s just their arms are not long enough!
So as we know eyes will be weakened once they get older we need to ask if we can slow this down. Apart from the actual hardening of the lens another factor is the weakening of the muscles that actually make the adjustments.
Some people advocate it is good to start practising with eye exercises before they have aged. Like any other muscle in the body regular exercise will keep them in the best state possible. Useful exercises are to make your eyes work by changing the distances they are focusing on. You do this by looking at objects close up and then looking at objects several feet away.
However our vision is not just related to what happens in the eye itself. How we see is also affected by the way the brain processes the information that it receives. The neural processing in the brain has to process and assimilate information from many neurons to form a final image. It is on this final part of the process that there is scientific evidence that improvements can be made.
There are several methods that have been suggested can improve this processing in the brain. One of these is the GlassesOff app that claims to improve vision due to presbyopia. Basically you download an app to your mobile and then after an initial assessment the app delivers a series of exercises. It is recommended to perform the exercises 3 times a week without wearing any reading glasses. The claim is that the training improves the brain plasticity. Many users report being able to see without glasses after using it.
I will report back on this as I am going to give it a go.
Natural Ways To Improve Eyesight
Other ways to improve eyesight are in fact good for health in general and not just eyesight.
- Drink plenty of water on a regular basis.
- Eat balanced meals.
- Protect your eyes from the sun.
- Take breaks from screens and books.
- Restrict straining your eyes when you are tired.
- Supplement with plants and herbs that improve eyesight naturally
Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water in order to help keep the body hydrated, Most of us do not drink enough water. You should aim to drink at least 1 litre per day. You will be surprised once you increase your water intake that it will improve many aspects of your life.
Eat Well
Your eyes like the rest of the body need proper nutrition. Eat a healthy diet that has enough protein. Make sure you have a diet with enough vitamins and minerals. The old wives tale that carrots make you see in the dark has some basis in fact that Vitamin A found in carrots is good for eyesight.
Some people like to supplement their diet with vitamin products specifically promoted as being good for the eyes. These usually contain Vitamin A, Riboflavin (B2), Lutein, Bilberry and Zinc
Sun Protection
Protecting your eyes from bright sunlight by wearing sunglasses is vital. The retina can be damaged by ultraviolet rays. Even if you are sitting under an umbrella on the beach remember that the sun’s rays can reflect off the sand. This reflection means you should also take care around water or snow for the same reason.
Limit Screen Use
If you are using a computer for hours on end or even reading a book it is advisable to take regular breaks. Every 20 minutes or so you should avert your gaze from the screen or page and stare at an object on the other side of the room. This is easily remembered as the 20-20-20 law. Every 20 minutes you look away for 20 seconds at an object that is 20 feet away. This will cause your eye muscles to adjust.
The use of a screen to limit the glare coming from the computer screen will also help. You can also download an app to automatically adjust the brightness of the display for different times of day and night.
It is also a good idea to force yourself to blink periodically. We can become so focused on the screen that blinking doesn’t happen naturally. Blinking keeps the eye surface moistened with fluid. If you suffer from dry eyes you may want to investigate eye drops.
Don’t Strain Your Eyes
It is also good form to not cause undue strain on your eyes. You should ensure that there is sufficient light rather than straining your eyes to read in dim conditions.
Use Plants and Herbs As Natural Cures For Eye Problems
There are plants and herbs that can treat various eye problems and help improve and protect eyesight naturally. These include bilberries, woolly lamb’s ear, pulsatilla, cocoplum amongst others. Discover how to use these as treatments for glaucoma, macular degeneration, night blindness, eye inflammation, sties and tics in this book of plant remedies by a doctor.
It is true that declining eyesight is a natural fact of life that comes with advancing age. Using these simple tips to improve and protect eyesight naturally will give you the best chance possible of delaying the need for reading glasses or surgery.
