With regular eye checkups, a person can maintain their eyesight and prevent illnesses and injuries that may harm their vision. However, other steps can also be used to improve a person’s vision, as well. Keep reading to find out about how to maintain and improve vision here.
- Get the Right Minerals and Vitamins
While it is a good idea to find Boz Eyewear for vision issues, getting the right minerals and vitamins is also essential. Essential vitamins for vision include vitamins A, C, and E, along with zinc. Each of these contains antioxidants that help to prevent macular degeneration and they are beneficial for other parts of the body.
This is a condition where the macula, which is the part of the eye that controls a person’s central vision, deteriorates. Several food sources can be used to get these crucial nutrients. Some of these food sources include citrus, sweet potato, strawberries, spinach, broccoli, red peppers, and carrots.
Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including flaxseed and salmon, are also highly recommended for improved eye health. Regardless of age or current eye health, it’s smart for everyone to get plenty of these substances daily.
- Carotenoids are Crucial
Several other nutrients are needed to improve eyesight, too. Some include zeaxanthin and lutein. These are catenoids that are found in the retina.
They are also found in eggs, zucchini, broccoli, and leafy green vegetables. Zeaxanthin and lutein can also be taken in supplement form. It’s these carotenoids help to protect a person’s macula. It does this by improving the density of the pigment in that part of the eye.
- Stay Fit
Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly can also provide vision help, not just help with a person’s waistline. When a person has type 2 diabetes, which is very common in individuals who are overweight, it can cause damage to the blood vessels in the eyes.
The official name of the condition is diabetic retinopathy. If too much sugar circulates in the bloodstream, it can injury the delicate walls of the arteries. By getting blood sugar regulated and remaining fit, a person can reduce the likelihood they will develop type 2 diabetes and the complications that go with it.
- Manage All Chronic Conditions
Diabetes isn’t the only condition that may affect a person’s vision. Additional conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and high blood pressure, may harm a person’s eyesight and other parts of the body, too. This is why maintaining good overall health is important for eye health.
For example, inflammation of the optic nerve may cause pain and eventually lead to total vision loss. While multiple sclerosis can’t be prevented, it is possible to manage it with medications and healthy habits. Also, high blood pressure can be treated with exercise, antihypertensive medications, and a healthy heart diet.
- Always Wear Protective Eyewear
It doesn’t matter if a person is playing tennis, working in their garage, or doing a science experiment for school; it’s essential to use eye protection. Tough and protective eyewear is crucial if there is a risk of sharp objects, chemicals, or dangerous materials. Some of these materials include things like metal shards, wood shavings, or an elbow during a football game, entering a person’s eye.
The majority of protective goggles available today are designed using polycarbonate. This is approximately 10 times stronger than other plastics.
- Obey the 20-20-20 Rule
A person’s eyes work hard day after day. From time to time, they need to have a break.
This is especially important for people who spend many hours at their computer, day after day. A great way to ease the strain is by following the 20-20-20 rule.
This rule states that every 20 minutes, a person should take their eyes off their computer screen. During this break, look at something that’s 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This break helps eyes avoid significant strain and reduces the likelihood that vision problems will occur down the road.
- Stop Smoking
By now, everyone understands that smoking is bad for their heart and their lungs. It’s also bad for a person’s teeth, skin, hair, and virtually every other body part. This includes the eyes.
When a person smokes, it drastically increases the likelihood they will develop age-related macular degeneration or cataracts. The good news is, a person’s heart, lungs, eyes, and all other body parts can recover from the years of harm caused by tobacco. This healing begins within the initial hours after a person stops smoking.
The longer a person avoids cigarettes and other smoking tobacco, the more their blood vessels will benefit. Also, the inflammation will reduce in the eyes and through the rest of the body.
- Keep Lenses and Hands at All Times
The eyes are especially vulnerable to infections and germs. Even if something only irritates a person’s eyes slightly, it can negatively affect a person’s vision. This means that a person always needs to wash their hands before they touch their eyes or before they handle their contact lenses.
It is also important for a person to wash their hands and to disinfect their contact lenses as instructed by an eye doctor. Make sure to use the manufacturer’s instructions, which let a person know when it is time to replace their contact lenses. If there are germs on a person’s contacts, it can lead to bacterial infections in the eyes.
Proper Eyecare is Essential for Eye Health
If an individual wants to improve their vision and ensure it is maintained through the years, they should follow the tips and information found here. Doing so will ensure that any vision problems that have occurred don’t get any worse. Sometimes, vision problems can also be reversed over time.
Remember, while the tips here are beneficial for vision issues, it’s also a good idea to use the services of an eye doctor once a year or once every two years. Make sure children have regular pediatric eye exams. They can help determine if any serious eye health problems need to be addressed. They can ensure that the problems are handled promptly and help prevent more serious eye health issues.
