How to Improve Eyesight: 6 Natural Ways for Better Vision

While there are several surgical options for improving your eyesight, these are not always necessary.

There are many things you can do to protect and maintain your vision. Not only will they help you improve your eyesight, but they will also help prevent macular degeneration and other eye disorders that cause irreversible damage.

Here are six ways to get started:

 1. Protect your eyes from ultraviolet light

Ultraviolet (UV) light, which comes from the sun, is unavoidable. But it can be detrimental to your eyesight.

There are two types of UV light to look out for — UV-A and UV-B. Both of these can lead to vision loss, with UV-A thought to play a role in macular degeneration. UV-B, on the other hand, can damage the parts of your eye closest to the surface.

To protect against both types of UV light, you should wear appropriate sunglasses outdoors. This can help prevent eye disorders related to UV exposure, including:

• Basal Cell Carcinoma of eyelids
• Pterygium
• Cataracts
• Macular Damage

2. Give your eyes a rest

How much time do you spend looking at a screen? In the modern world, many of us work on computer screens for huge chunks of the day.

We also tend to spend a lot of time at home staring at screens too, whether that’s on our phones, tablets, the TV or computers.

There’s some controversy about the effects this has on eyesight, with experts disagreeing about the long-term consequences of excessive screen use. But some studies do suggest the blue light emitted from these devices may play a role in macular degeneration.

Short-term side effects are also common, with eye strain at the top of the list, followed by dry eyes.  If you spend a lot of time using screens, give yourself regular breaks. This doesn’t have to be complicated — simply look away  from your screen and into the distance for 20 seconds every 20 minutes or so.

3. Focus on eating a healthy diet

Don’t underestimate the impact good nutrition can have on your eyesight.

A healthy, balanced diet should include all the nutrients you need to keep your eyes in good shape. Be sure to include the following:

• Omega-3 – it’s a good idea to introduce a supplement if you’re not eating oily fish regularly,
• Vitamins C, A and E – these all contain antioxidants which prevent macular degeneration.
• Carotenoids – it has been found that people who eat a diet rich in these nutrients are 40% less likely to be diagnosed with macular degeneration.

So what foods should you be eating? As well as the fish, focus on getting more fruit and vegetables into your diet — the more colours the better.

4. Get regular exercise

We all know being active provides a whole host of benefits — but did you know better vision is one of them?

Research consistently shows that people who work out regularly have lower rates of eye disorders.

It can also reduce your risk of long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, which are associated with eye problems like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. This happens when arteries inside your eye start to leak, filling the eye with fluid.

Can you make time for more activity, and protect your vision as you age?

5. Don’t smoke

As well as the common health conditions we think of when we consider smoking, like cancer, it also affects your eye health.

Smoking has been linked to several eye disorders, including:

• Macular degeneration,
• Cataracts,
• Diabetic retinopathy,
• Glaucoma

If you don’t smoke, the solution is simple — don’t start.

But if you are a smoker, we know it isn’t that straightforward. If your eye health and vision is important to you, get help to quit — you won’t regret it.

6. Be proactive about the health of your eyes

Finally, one of the best things you can do to protect your eyesight is to be proactive about the health of your eyes.

Attend regular screenings with an ophthalmologist to assess the health of your eyes. This is important even if you don’t currently have any problems with your vision.

Many eye disorders are hard to detect without an eye exam, but the damage can be irreversible. Regular check-ups can detect problems before you’re even aware of the symptoms, helping you take steps to prevent any further damage

Are you looking for more advice on protecting your vision in Sydney? Get in touch to find out how we can help. Call us on (02) 9230 0010 or contact us via the website.