During World War II, the British published reports in their newspapers that carrots could improve your vision. They did this because they had invented radar and wanted to provide German spies with another reason why the British could see German planes at night. Although carrots can’t improve your eyesight as much as implied during the war, they can still help with better eye health.
Eating carrots isn’t the only method of improving your eye health. The following are some tips for how you can better your eye health at home.
Tip one:
Eat the Right Foods
Eating the right foods is important for eye health. Getting all of the vitamins and minerals you need is a vital part of overall health as well as eye health. Some vitamins can even help prevent eye problems such as macular degeneration. Foods that contain nutrients that can improve eye health include:
- Carrots
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Red peppers
- Sweet potato
- Strawberries
- Anything citrus
Foods with omega-3 fatty acids can also be good for eye health. Fish and flaxseed are good sources of omega-3s.
Tip two:
Stay Fit
You wouldn’t think that exercise could improve your eye health, but it can. Keeping fit can help prevent Type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes is more common in those who are overweight or obese and can result in damage occurring in the blood vessels within the eyes. Called diabetic retinopathy, this condition is the result of too much sugar in your bloodstream damaging the artery walls. Exercising regularly and keeping fit can help you not only stay healthier overall but also prevent damage to the blood vessels in your eyes.
Plus, exercise can help improve blood flow and the circulation of oxygen to your eyes. This can help prevent your eyes from getting dry.
Tip three:
Wear Sunglasses and Protective Eyewear
Sunglasses may look cool, but they have a more practical purpose as well. UV rays from the sun (both UVA and UVB rays) can damage your eyes and lead to eye problems, such as:
- Cataracts
- Pterygiums (tissue growth on the whites of the eyes that can lead to astigmatism)
- Macular degeneration
It’s not just the sun that can harm your eyes. If you play sports, conduct science experiments, or do work in your garage, then there’s a chance that something could get in your eye and cause damage. Chemicals, shards of metal, wood shavings, sharp objects, or even a body part from another player can all cause eye damage. Wearing protective eyewear like goggles can help keep your eyes safe.
Tip four:
Take Screen Breaks
Computer and phone screens are involved in practically every part of our lives now. From work to our entertainment, we spend a lot of time looking at LCD screens. However, it can strain your eyes to stare at a computer or phone screen for too long. You can help avoid this by following what is called the 20-20-20 rule. Every twenty minutes, spend twenty seconds looking away from your screen at something that is twenty feet away.
Tip five:
Get Enough Sleep
Not getting enough sleep can result in eye strain. Plus, it can make your eyes feel dry. Making sure you get enough sleep can help you avoid eye strain and headaches that might come from it.
Tip six:
Get Your Eyes Checked Regularly
No matter how healthy your eyes are, it’s important to get them checked regularly with an eye doctor. Even if you don’t wear glasses, an eye doctor can help make keep your eyes healthy. They’ll be able to let you know if it’s time to get glasses or if you need a different prescription. Any potential problems with your eyes can be caught right away before they get worse.
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