Did you know that a vast majority of Americans have poor eyesight? That’s right. 7 out of 10 Americans wear corrective lenses for their eyes. And while laser eye surgery is an option for you, it’s not without its disadvantages. So if you’re someone with weak eyesight, I would suggest you to go through this article to learn some quick tips to improve eye healthnaturally, so that you may never have to get any sort of surgery done.

How to Improve Eye Health Naturally

1.      Remember to Always Rest Your Eyes

Much like the other parts of your body, your eyes need rest otherwise they will end up being overworked. This is why you should be getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep every day. Let your eye muscles relax so that they can begin afresh from the next day onward!

2.      Break Time

If getting 8 hours of sleep seems like a luxury to you, then don’t worry. Power naps are just as good. If you find that difficult, then you can simply shut your eyes for 5 minutes or so every hour. If your eyes are feeling tired but there’s important work that needs to be done, then put sum sliced cucumber slices on your eyelids.

3.      Exercise Is Important

Yes, exercise for your eyes. Focus on an object that is at least 15 feet away for a minimum of 20 seconds. Do this every half an hour or so, and make sure the object isn’t something huge like an almirah – that makes it difficult to focus.

4.      Screen Brightness

Wondering how to improve eye health?Pay attention to your screen brightness.It can be tempting to keep your phone or laptop’s screen brightness to its maximum setting in order to get a better viewing experience, but that is not good for your eyes. Conversely, keeping the brightness to the lowest setting is also not advised as it strains your eyes more in order to see better. Keep it somewhere in the middle.

5.      Shades

Whenever you’re out on a sunny day, don’t forget two things – sunscreen and sunglasses. While the sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UV rays, the sunglasses do the same for your eyes. However, not just any pair will do. Make sure you buy sunglasses that have been labeled as giving 100% UV protection.

6.      Workout

This might come as another surprise, but workout your body actually helps with your eyesight as well. Research suggests that regular physical workouts/activities can help in preventing glaucoma, which damages your optic nerve.

7.      DIY Eyewash

Have you heard of Triphala? This Indian Ayurvedic formula consists of 3 ingredients – Amla, Haritaki and Vibhitaki. The mixture is high in antioxidants that not only strengthen your eye muscles, and relieve stress, but also get rid of eye conditions like myopia and glaucoma.

Making eyewash is simple. All you have to do is take a spoonful of powdered triphala and add it to a glass of warm water, stirring it well. Set it aside till it cools down, dip a hand towel in the mixture and then place that cloth over your eyes. Let it remain there for a minimum of 5 minutes and ensure that you blink regularly in order to let the water enter your sockets.

8.      Quit Smoking

Smoking is terrible for your eyes – it damages your optic nerve and might lead to macular degeneration and cataracts. If you think you can’t quit smoking on your own, then ask for help. There’s no shame in contacting professionals to help you get rid of this terrible habit.

9.      Foods for Eyesight

One of the best ways on how to improve eye healthis to begin by improving your diet. Listed below are some of the best foods for your eyesight:

• Bilberry fruit: Rich in antioxidants, this berry also helps increase blood circulation to your eyes.
• Saffron: The compounds safranal and crocin found in saffron are responsible for improving your eyesight, as well as protecting it from UV ray damage. Continued use also can considerably slow macular degeneration.
• Garlic: The high amounts of selenium found in raw garlic are a great source of antioxidants, which, much like saffron, work well in slowing down the process of macular degeneration (which eventually leads to blindness). Eat 3-4 cloves or raw garlic every day for the best results.
• Carrots: This one’s a no brainer. Eat them raw, cooked or juiced – either way, the more carrot you have in your diet, the better it is for your eyes.
• Pycnogenol: This antioxidant has been scientifically proven to repair your eyes’ capillaries, improve visual acuity and microcirculation in your eyes, as well as preventing the onset of retinal edema
• Jaborandi: Containing an alkaloid compound called pilocarpine, jaborandi is a herb that immediately helps constrict your pupils, which in turn decreases the pressure you feel in your eyes.
• Gingko Biloba: This plant’s extracts treat a wide variety of problems, including, of course, those related with the eyes. It helps in improving your color vision.
• Kale: This superfood, popular among vegans, is rich in minerals, nutrients and vitamins. Not only that, but it has the same antioxidants that egg does: lutein and zeaxanthin. So if you’re a vegan or simply one who doesn’t enjoy eating eggs, kale is a great way to help prevent several old age related eye problems, including cataracts.
• Almonds: Raw almonds are high in vitamin E, which help in delaying macular degeneration and cataracts, as well as protecting your eye from free radicals.
• Coriander: High in antioxidants, coriander is not only great for your eyes but your skin as well. Eat it raw, add it to your food or salad or simply whip up a smoothie – the options are many!