How to improve vision: 6 natural and safe ways to improve your eyesight

Scrawling through to read the small letters in a newspaper? Do you feel that your eyes feel hazy and make vision poor?

Working for long hours on the laptop, increased screen usage, a poor diet can impact our vision in a bad manner. With age too, our eyesight tends to get a bit weaker and most adults developing eyesight issues in their mid-30s or 40s, even a lot of people in their younger years develop vision problems and require the use of glasses. The excessive dependence on digital screens and gizmos during the pandemic has only made problems worse. However, fret not. While it's important to take care of one's eyes and go for regular eye check-ups, we tell you some safe and effective, all-natural ways to improve and protect your eyesight!

If you spend long hours glued to the laptop, take notes and start using these:


1. Make sure you are including vision-healthy micronutrients in your diet

One of the best things to do to correct your lifestyle is to have a good quality diet. Vitamins, minerals and a nutrient-rich diet can often cross out many problems and help you live healthy. Some particular vitamins, such as Vitamins A, C, E and minerals like zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids are loaded with so many good antioxidants which actively prevent macular degeneration, i.e., protect the part of the eye which helps you see clearly. Be it a school-going child or a senior citizen, make sure to add plentiful of colourful, nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, seafood and herbs rich in these potent nutrients to protect your eyes.



2. Carotenoids are good for your vision



Carotenoids are an often-discussed word in relation to eye health and vision. There are some micronutrients, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which are carotenoids present in our retina. While the natural levels may deplete over time, the helpful carotenoids can also be found in many leafy greens, veggies and even eggs!


Carotenoids are also beneficial in improving pigment density in the eyes. They can also be taken via supplements, but do consider checking in with a doctor first.




3. Take care of your overall health and prevent diseases


Remember, diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic inflammation can all, over time, impact your vision. Certain conditions, such as the ones that cause inflammation of the optic nerve can lead to vision problems and even loss. Hence, it's crucial to learn to manage these problems at the right time and prevent additional complications from propping up.



4. Exercise and move around!


Believe it or not, a healthy vision is also linked to how fit and flexible you are! Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight over the years can limit the risk of health complications such as diabetic retinopathy that harm your vision and make you unable to see clearly. Hence, make sure you are




5. Use protective eyewear


Considering that modern-day jobs often require us to spend long hours in front of a screen, we must also ensure that the time we spend does not aggressively impact our eye health. For one, it is important to wear protective eyewear when we work. Digital devices and screens emit a lot of blue light which is harmful to our eyes, and looking at the screens constantly can also strain them. Using glasses (even if they are zero power) can prevent eye health from further degradation. Even when you are working in extreme conditions, or playing sports, keep your eyes protected with quality eyewear.


Similarly, when you do step out in bright light, use sunglasses. Wearing shades is not just fashionable, but also protects the eyes from harmful UVA and UVB radiations emitted from the sun. It can also prevent eye damage.




6. Start using the 20-20-20 rule


Provided you cannot just quit working or spending time in front of screens, a helpful addition is to follow the 20-20-20 rule every time you sit down to work! It can help you take a break and prevent eye strain as well.


Simply said, the rule means that every 20 minutes, you get off the system, look at something else 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.