One of the most common vision challenges older people experience is poor vision at close distances. While this is a normal change, there are still ways to improve your eyesight and eye health at an older age.
Besides getting affordable glasses near me from clinics like Dr. Tavel, here are ways to improve your vision when you’re over 50 years old.
- Eat healthier
We probably heard and seen on mainstream media how carrots are great for our vision. That’s correct, as carrots contain vitamin A, an essential nutrient for good vision.
But carrots aren’t the only food to consume, and vitamin A isn’t the only nutrient you need for better eye function. We recommend consuming other food rich in vitamins A, C, and E, along with food containing high levels of copper and zinc.
When you get older, macular degeneration may be a higher risk. Antioxidants may help prevent this condition, which you can find in food like eggs, carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and dark leafy greens. We also recommend fish containing omega-3 fatty acids, such as wild salmon, cod, and mackerel.
- Eye exercises
Our eyes have muscles, so they require exercise to stay in great shape. We recommend performing eye exercises in the morning, before bedtime, and whenever your eyes feel tired.
To do eye exercises, warm your eyes with warm palms for five seconds, doing this three times. Also, roll your eyes, looking up and circling your eyes ten times in both directions.
Sharpen your focus as well by holding a pen or other object at arm’s lengths, focusing on it. Let the object move closer slowly until it’s about six inches from your nose. Repeat this ten times.
- Full body exercises
Besides eye exercises, we also recommend doing full-body exercises. At least 20 minutes of exercise a day is great for your mind and body, including the eyes.
Exercise can help improve blood circulation, which benefits our eyes’ small blood vessels, removing any harmful substances that might have been deposited in them. You don’t need to do intense exercises, with brisk walks being enough!
- Get some rest
We recommend closing your eyes for a few minutes every hour, or even more when you’re working in front of the computer or straining your eyes. This is an exercise that protects your eyes from fatigue or overexertion.
- Sleep enough
It isn’t enough to rest your eyes a few minutes an hour! It’s also about getting adequate sleep. Not only does this help your eyes, but your overall health, which is why you probably hear your eye doctor in Bloomington IN always advising you to get enough sleep.
Give your eyes the chance to rest completely with your eyes fully closed for the next few hours, readying for a day of work later on. We recommend getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night.
Wrapping It Up
Not only should people over 50 follow these tips, but younger ones as well to maintain excellent eye health!