Maintaining good eye health is important for your overall quality of life. Eyesight can affect everything from reading and performing tasks at work to your ability to effectively communicate with others. While no natural remedies can fix serious eye conditions and illnesses, below are five tips to help you maintain your eye health:
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Eat a healthy diet. Antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral zinc can help stop the progress of age-related macular degeneration. Vitamin A can be found in cantaloupes, carrots, mangos, and sweet potatoes; brussels sprouts, broccoli, and oranges are rich in vitamin C; you can get vitamin E from almonds, sunflower seeds, as well as peanut butter; and Zinc can be found in shellfish and red meat.
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Exercise regularly. Some health conditions that stem from a lack of physical activity can have significant ramifications on your eye health. Incorporating regular walks, riding a bike, or doing light at-home workouts could enhance your level of activity and ultimately protect your eyes.
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Visit your eye doctor. Visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist for regular eye exam to assess your vision and determine if any vision loss may be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition. If you suddenly experience blurry vision, double vision, diminished vision, loss of peripheral vision, eye pain, seek emergency medical attention.
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Use eye protection. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun can have a damaging effect on your eyes and also contribute to cataract formation. Consider wearing sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection whenever you are outside, not just on sunny days.
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Rest your eyes. Give your eyes a break now and then. Asthenopia, or eye strain, is when your eyes are sore, tired, or achy, especially after looking at a computer or phone screen for too long. Rest your eyes using the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds.
