Introduction

Eyes are precious as these organs let us see the world around us. Thus, we need to learn to care for them. Instead of taking care, we let them suffer. We feel that eye care requires lots of time and thus we give an excuse that we don't have enough time to pay attention to them. Consistent carelessness can impact the eyesight and as a result, we need to wear glasses or contact lenses to see better. If the situation worsens, laser treatments and other sorts of surgeries need to be considered. It is high time that we care for our eyes as there are simple yet effective ways that will help us bring improvement in our eyesight and get rid of those glasses and contact lenses. Below are mentioned certain simple ways that can help us naturally improve our eyesight.

Eat healthily

Eat a healthy diet and include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables that will bring remarkable improvement in the eyesight. It is a natural way of improving eyesight and prevents it from further deteriorating in any way. Vitamin A, C, and E are known to improve eye health. Include such fruits and vegetables in the daily diet plan that are rich in vitamins and minerals which support eye health. We all know how good carrot is for eyesight. All we need to do is include more and more such amazing fruits and vegetables in the diet plan. Antioxidants are also good for eye health. Lutein, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin are the antioxidants that prevent macula from undergoing damages caused by harmful sun rays. Consume lots of dark green leafy vegetables, yellow peppers, carrots, egg yolks, sweet potatoes and pumpkin to derive these antioxidants. Macular degeneration is an age-related process and can also result in blindness. Including green and yellow vegetables in diet plan on a daily basis can prevent this condition and keep the eye healthy. We may also take help of multi-vitamin or other supplements in case we think that we are not able to fulfill our daily requirement through diet. A vitamin pill may not improve eyesight but it is essential as it still contributes to other factors that help to maintain good eye health. Our eyes require many nutrients so that it can perform its functions properly. Apart from vitamins, minerals such as zinc and copper are also essential for good eyesight. 

Fatty acid DHA structurally supports cell membrane and ultimately results in good eye health. Thus, try to include foods rich in DHA such as salmon, cod, mackerel, sardines and other cold water fish. Include fruits such as grapes, blueberries and goji berries as they have anti-inflammatory properties and are rich sources of antioxidants. A cataract is a very common problem in age-old individuals. Prevention is always better than cure. If care is taken right from the beginning, one can prevent its formation in the eye lenses. Eat foods that are rich sources of sulfur, lecithin, and cysteine such as onions, garlic, and shallots.

Get good sleep

When we don’t sleep for adequate hours or do not get to enjoy undisturbed sleep, we, in turn, affect our eye health. Certain eye-related conditions are simply because we are suffering from sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea. If we want to enjoy good eyesight, we need to sleep for adequate hours. Also, eyes which are strain-free and well rested help in enjoying quality sleep. Even while working during our working hours, we should take quick breaks in order to offer some rest to our eyes. Our eyes suffer especially if our work is mainly computer based. This kind of work offers too much strain on the eyes. In such cases, it is important that every 50 minutes or so, we give a break of 1-2 minutes to our eyes. It will hardly impact our work but will greatly benefit our eyes. After 50-60 minutes, we can take a couple of minutes break by shifting our focus from the computer screen to different objects. 10-10-10 rule is the best method to relax our eyes and get rid of strain from them. It means we need to look at objects which are at 10 feet distance from us for at least 10 seconds. We need to do it every 10 minutes. Devoting 10 seconds of time after every 10 minutes is not going to affect our work in any way. Take regular breaks during work hours or while watching television and enjoy undisturbed sleep of 8 hours and see a remarkable improvement in the eye health within a week or so.

Exercises related to eye

It is important that we devote some time on a daily basis for performing eye exercises. These exercises naturally and quickly bring improvement in eyesight. These exercises strengthen our sight and help get rid of those glasses or contacts that we use for seeing. Follow a schedule exclusively meant for performing these exercises. Rub the palms of hands together to generate some heat and thereby place the palms on eyes. Hold them for 7-10 seconds. Repeat a few times. This is warm-up exercise meant for eyes and is done prior to other exercises. 

Roll the eyes but make sure not to put any strain on them. Do not over exert and immediately stop in case if it hurts in any way. Try to focus as far away as possible followed by looking down. Perform this exercise at least 8-10 times. Next, look on either side and repeat it nearly 10 times. Follow this by looking diagonally. End the exercise by rolling eyes in the anti-clockwise direction followed by a clockwise motion. Repeat it 10 times.

Take any obstacle such as a small stick, pen or pencil. Initially, hold it away from eyes at least at an arm’s length but make sure to keep it at the level of the eye. Bring it closer to the eye slowly whereas letting the eye completely focus on its tip. Do not bring the object anywhere closer than six inches from the eyes. Continue its journey backward until it reaches to arm’s length. Do not let the eyes get distracted and let them remain focused. This exercise should be carried in a very slow manner. Repeat it for at least 10 times.

After exercising is finished, try to massage eyes. Use fingertips or knuckles to massage temples by moving in a clockwise fashion followed by anti-clockwise direction. Also, massage eyebrows and under eyes area. Once again apply some heat to the eyes by rubbing palms and placing them over eyes. Eyes will feel fresh and relaxed after the session. In case they are tired which may take place initially then let them rest for a few minutes and keep them closed. 

Protect eyes

When eyes are exposed to harmful ultraviolet light for a longer duration then it is for sure that eye health is going to deteriorate. Ultraviolet light exposure can cause cataracts and macular degeneration. Thus, we need to protect our eyes by wearing sunglasses as they tend to block these harmful rays. Buy sunglasses from some reputed brands and do not end up buying something from the roadside. It is because not every shaded glass blocks UVA and UVB rays. It is beneficial to purchase a wrap-around type of sunglasses. These sunglasses block ultraviolet rays not only from the front but also from the sides of our eyes. All we have to do is to purchase a good quality of sunglasses and wear them whenever we go outside during the day time.

Also, quit smoking. Smoking is not only bad for overall health but also causes ill-effects on eye health. It is because smoking over a period of time can lead to macular degeneration and cataract. Thus, try to quit it at the earliest and protect your eyes from suffering from ill-health. One can also take help from a support group or concerned doctor for the same.

Conclusion

A few things which are mentioned in this article if regularly followed can improve the eyesight over a period of time and prevent worsening of the damage that is already caused and also works on reversing the damage. However, results require time and consistent efforts. These are the natural methods to improve eyesight and enjoy good eye health. Individuals who opt to wear contact lenses or glasses over a period of time will have to go for prescriptions that are way stronger than they are using in the present time. The reason is that the vision keeps declining. Until an individual follows a healthy lifestyle and makes all the required efforts that are essential for good eye health, vision keeps declining. In recent times, we have been causing too much strain on our eyes as we are using them more than ever to stare at our cell phones, computer screens, televisions, and other electronic gadgets. Thus, eye disorders that are age-related and fatigue in eyes are the common sorts of problems we are at risk of. However, it does not have to be like this forever. We can follow the above mentioned simple tips and sharpen our eyesight and enjoy good eye health that is free of eye problems.