It’s no secret that our eyes weaken with age but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Lifestyle and nutrition play a big part, as do preventative measures.
Besides seeing your eye doctor/optometrist every year, here are 6 sure-fire ways to keep your eyesight the best it can be for years to come.
1. Eat for good vision
Protecting your eyes starts with your diet. Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E help to ward off age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. These are the foods you should eat for good eye health:
Eating a well-balanced diet also helps you maintain a healthy weight, which makes you less likely to get obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Studies show diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults.
2. Wear sunglasses
The right kind of sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays as too much UV exposure makes you more likely to get cataracts and macular degeneration.
Choose sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Some contact lenses also offer UV protection.
3. Avoid eye strain
Staring at a computer screen or your smart device for too long can cause eyestrain and blurry vision.
Here’s how to avoid eye strain:
4. Exercise your eyes
These simple exercises will help you maintain your vision and stop eye fatigue. Perform these exercises first thing in the morning, before bedtime, or any time your eyes feel tired. Make sure that your hands are clean and that you are relaxed.
5. Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for eye health – it allows your eyes to fully rest, repair, and recover. Insufficient sleep may weaken your vision.
6. Stay hydrated
Round out a healthy diet with non-caffeinated herbal teas and water. Proper hydration also may reduce irritation from dry eyes.
7. Manage your blood glucose
High blood sugar contributes to cataracts and damages small arteries, including the delicate blood vessels in the retina.
8. Avoid tobacco smoke
Smoking damages the eyes, and escalates the risk of arterial disease, not to mention it is bad for your overall health.
9. Drink a glass or two of green tea every day
Extracts in green tea protect against diabetes and heart disease and defend against damage to the retina and lens such as cataracts.
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