5 Tips For Good Vision Health
3. Avoid eyestrain and fatigueThe jury is still out on the long-term effects of eyestrain from staring at a computer monitor all day. However, the short-term effects of eyestrain are undeniable: eye pain, watering, blurry or double vision, and headaches.
To reduce eyestrain while working on the computer, remember to:
4. Wear safety gogglesIn addition to diseases, eye injury is also a major cause of blindness or vision impairment. Indeed, more than 1 million people (nearly 800,000 of which are men) suffer from eye injuries every year in the United States. Sadly, 90% of these could have been prevented if they had been wearing safety goggles.
Remember to wear protective eyewear when:
Also be careful with fireworks — every year, there are about 8,500 fireworks-related injuries. In 2,000 of these cases, the injuries are to the eyes. About 1 in 20 victims loses all vision or requires removal of the injured eye.
5. Exercise, eat well & take herbs for visionNo, eating a lot of carrots will not necessarily improve your vision, but getting essential vitamins and minerals may be vital for good vision. Be sure to eat a balanced diet with plenty of vitamins A, E and C, as well as zinc, copper, selenium, and antioxidants.
Exercising can also help by lowering blood pressure (and therefore reducing arterial pressure in the eye that can lead to retinal damage), especially for men with glaucoma and diabetes.
Lastly, consider taking herbs for eye and vision health, such as bilberry, zeaxanthin and lycopene found in Anchor Health's Eye Factors. Bilberry can help protect and strengthen the capillary walls of the eyes, and therefore protect against glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. It may also help improve night vision and recovery time from glare.
Zeaxanthin, a major component of the macular pigment, is believed to help protect the eye from UV rays. Lycopene is a carotenoid found in tomatoes and red fruits, and is a potent antioxidant.
keep your eye on visionTaking good care of your eyes is important and not that hard to do. However, it's all up to you — schedule a regular eye exam, and wear sunglasses when outdoors and protective eyewear when necessary. By following these simple steps, you can make sure that you see and keep seeing clearly.
Ophthal Epidemiol. 8:39-56, 2001.
Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection and Critical Care. 2005, 59(1): 175-178.