How Can Adults Improve Their Eyesight?

February 28, 2022

Most of us are born with great eyesight. However as we age, the risk of our eyesight deteriorating, increases. There are many ways where we can prevent this or if we notice a deterioration, there is still time to implement positive improvements to our health to improve our eyesight. Most of us start developing eyesight issues between mid-40s and early 50s. This is usually long sightedness which affects reading and working on electronic devices. This is one of the most common vision challenges between the ages of 40 and 60.

Watch our short video on How Adults Can Improve Their Eyesight.

Below are some tips to follow to improve your eyesight.

Feeding Your Eyes

This means eating foods that contain specific nutrients for your eyes. Carrots for example, are rich in Vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient for vision. Other vitamins and nutrients that benefit good eye health include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Copper and Zinc. It is also important to eat foods that are rich in antioxidants as these can help age related diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Foods such as sweet potatoes, red peppers, tomatoes, pumpkins and dark leafy green vegetables such as kale and spinach are all beneficial for our eyes. Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids such as flaxseed and salmon are also beneficial for eye health.

Other nutrients such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which are carotenoids found in the retina are also key in improving eyesight. These nutrients can be found in eggs, leafy green vegetables, broccoli and courgettes.

Watch our TV recording below to learn more about tips for healthy eyesight.

Exercising and Relaxing Your Eyes

As our eyes have muscles, ensuring these are exercised will help maintain your eyes in good shape. Ensure these exercises and relaxation techniques are performed regularly especially if you do a lot of close up work. Rolling your eyes, looking up and down and circling your eyes will help your eye muscles. Similarly, you can focus on objects near and far. Going for a brisk walk or exercising for only 20 minutes daily will also help your blood circulation and is beneficial to the small blood vessels in the eyes. These vessels help to remove harmful substances that may have been deposited.

Keeping fit and free from diseases such as Diabetes is very important. Being overweight or obese can lead to Diabetes, which may cause damage to the tiny blood vessels in the eyes. This condition is known as Diabetic Retinopathy, which causes the very small arteries in your retina to leak blood and fluid into the eye, harming your vision. Your retina is the light sensitive back part of your eye.

Closing your eyes for a few minutes or taking a break from your electronic device or reading will help your eyes relax. This can protect your eyes from over exertion or fatigue.

Getting Adequate Sleep

Our body repairs itself when we sleep. Therefore, it is essential to get adequate good quality sleep daily. Resting our eyes during the day for several minutes is insufficient, however it does help. Plan your sleep time and do your best to stick to it. The ideal time to sleep is from around 10pm till 6am.

Avoid Smoking

Apart from health reasons and the terrible stench left on our clothes and surroundings from smoking, it can also increase your chances of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Smoking also destroys Vitamin C and antioxidants that are beneficial to your eyes.

Have Regular Eye Checkups

Having regular eye check ups and Iridology consultations will help you to identify potential eye problems, even before symptoms arise. Most problems can be corrected when detected early. Sadly, most people wait until they experience eyesight problems before booking in for a check up.

Regular Eye Checkups can also detect other health concerns such as High Blood Pressure. Cholesterol and Diabetes. Managing these chronic conditions, which are linked to chronic inflammation can keep you healthy. Inflammation of the optic nerve can cause pain and loss of vision.

Watch our TV recording below to learn more about best foods to boost your eye health.

Learning Your Family’s Eye Health History

Our genes play a big part in our health as some eye conditions are hereditary. These include glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and retinal degeneration. Understanding your family’s eye health history can help you take early precautions. You are also in control of the environment you choose to be in and the actions you take and this has proven to be powerful in avoiding or reversing any inherited eye health concerns.

For example, if you were brought up in an environment where you consumed poor quality food, as you gain your financial independence, you can make better food choices. Likewise if you had a great and healthy childhood but have now chosen to eat more convenience foods, then your health will start to deteriorate, no matter how good your genes are.