With the help of our eyes, we perceive the world around us in all the variety of colors.But over time, the contours of the objects decrease in clarity and colors.This happens not because the world has changed, but because of a decrease in visual acuity.This problem can affect anyone.To avoid this, it is important to know how to improve your vision when it starts to decline.
How urgent is the problem of loss of visual acuity?
According to statistics, more than 290 million people have low vision, about 40 million cannot see at all.In large cities, 8 out of 10 residents have various visual dysfunctions, and at least 1 person in the world becomes blind every 5 seconds.
Statistics are generally not encouraging and make us think very seriously about eye health.In 75-80% of cases, if you undergo a course of therapy in the early stages of the development of ophthalmic diseases, the loss of visual function can be prevented.
The reason for the decrease in visual acuity is both the external environment and an unbalanced diet, genetic predisposition, etc.Finally, genetics cannot be fooled in any way, and other factors can somehow be "neutralized".
Only a specialist knows how to improve vision and treat diseases that cause vision loss.Therefore, it is necessary to carry out diagnostics to assess the health of the organ of vision and the health of the whole body every year.
How to improve your eyesight?
Everyone can minimize the damage of external factors and adjust their lifestyle.We have prepared the 10 most popular ways that will help to improve vision and prevent its complete loss.
Don't forget about sun protection
Ultraviolet radiation, which is the main source of the sun, is invisible to the human eye.However, contrary to the popular belief that only direct rays are harmful to the eyes, radiation reflected from surfaces is not dangerous at all.Bright sunlight helps tear fluid evaporate faster.Therefore, the feeling of dryness and burning is often intensified in spring.
Many people do not suspect that prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to the development of conjunctivitis, photokeratitis (burning and inflammation of the cornea) and cataracts.But you can protect your eyes from the sun.To do this, it is necessary to wear glasses that help minimize the damage of radiation at any time of the year.But good glasses with UV 400 or UV 380 protection level can cope with ultraviolet radiation.
There are also glasses labeled with cosmetics.But they have nothing in common with eye protection products from ultraviolet radiation.These are more of an image accessory than glasses.
Protect your eyes from injury
Don't forget about eye protection when working with open flames, chemicals or welding machines.Without glasses, you cannot perform work that poses a risk to the organ of vision, because you can be injured or burned.
You must remember to take precautions when working with stone chips, shavings, and any other small object that may injure your eyes.Special glasses are useful not only at work, but also at home.
Take vision enhancing vitamins
Vitamins such as A, D, C, E are considered extremely useful for the visual system.Minerals such as zinc also provide benefits.These active ingredients help prevent macular degeneration (responsible for central vision).
Cold-pressed vegetable oil will also be useful for the visual system.This can be fennel oil, pumpkin oil or pine nut oil.To reduce the risk of developing cataracts, you need Riboflavin, B2 and Beta-Carotene.These substances are present in tomatoes and watermelon.
To maintain eye health, you should also eat other foods that improve eyesight.These can be natural sources of Omega-3 fatty acids (sardines and flaxseeds), fresh fruits and vegetables (carrots, broccoli, red peppers, kale, sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, strawberries).It is difficult to say exactly which foods improve vision.However, a person who wants to protect it should have vitamins and minerals that are important for the body in his diet.
Take a break from the computer
Many people, after a working day spent in front of the monitor, sit in front of the computer at home to finish their work or just watch their favorite movie.However, such loads are unacceptable in the visual apparatus.
The 20x20x20 rule will help reduce the negative consequences of eye strain.It can be easily deciphered: when working with digital data, you should take a 20-second break every 20 minutes.At this time, you should look at an object located 20 meters away from you.
Blinking frequently during visual stress is beneficial because the frequency of blinking is reduced when performing tasks that require high concentration of attention.Therefore, the tear film quickly evaporates and discomfort appears.
Dry eye syndrome (DES) can occur if the work and rest mode at the computer is disturbed.This condition is usually treated with eye drops.But they are not able to improve vision or provide the eyes with enough moisture.Drops are only a temporary measure to relieve the unpleasant symptoms of dry eye syndrome.Such drugs do not normalize tear production, so they are suitable for symptomatic treatment of dry eye syndrome.
Don't forget the eye exercises
After a long time of monotonous work at the computer, it is useful to give your eyes a "training session".Visual Gymnastics consists of simple exercises that help to remove severe tension from the eye muscles and get rid of the feeling of heaviness.Incorporate three simple exercises into your daily routine:
- Squeezing your eyes.While sitting in a chair, close your eyes tightly for a few seconds and open your eyes again.Repeat the exercises 8-10 times with a break of 5-10 seconds between them.
- "The eyes."Stand on your feet and slowly move your gaze from the bottom to the top.
- Blinking.Try blinking your eyes very often for 1-2 minutes.Despite the simplicity of this exercise, it is very useful because it helps to stimulate blood circulation in eye tissues.
Is it possible to improve eyesight with gymnastics?Of course, exercises will not help you restore 100% vision in 5 minutes, even if you do them every day.However, periodic training of visual aids will help prevent the development of serious ophthalmological diseases.
Of course, exercises will not help to restore vision completely, but they can relieve muscle tension, stimulate tear ducts and improve nutrition and blood supply to tissues.
But eye exercises are not always helpful.It should not be done in these cases immediately after surgical treatment of retinal detachment, inflammatory ophthalmological diseases or eye pathologies.Overuse of the visual apparatus in the presence of such conditions can only aggravate its condition.
Control your body weight
Excess weight can be one of the reasons for the deterioration of the visual system.As paradoxical as this may sound, it is true.Many obese people suffer from type 2 diabetes, which leads to the development of diabetic retinopathy.When there is too much sugar in the blood, the walls of the blood vessels in the retina are damaged.Because of this, vision deteriorates.
Another complication of diabetes that can cause poor vision is neuropathy.It can affect any part of the nervous system, including the nerves of the visual apparatus.Weight control and physical activity prevent the development of type 2 diabetes and its eye complications.
Obesity is also often accompanied by hypertension, which in turn has a negative effect on the visual system.To normalize blood pressure, not only to take special medicine, but also to do physical exercises that will help control your weight.
Avoiding bad habits will help maintain visual acuity
Smoking, drinking alcohol and other bad habits are harmful to health.They also suffer from gas.For example, smoking can increase the risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.But not only nicotine is harmful, because cigarette smoke irritates the mucous membrane and can even contribute to its dehydration (dehydrates).
But these bad habits can be avoided.The fact is that eye vessels can recover after quitting smoking.So think about your health before smoking another cigarette.
Don't forget antioxidants
Every day, the visual system is exposed to oxidative stress, which helps to neutralize anthocyanins.These beneficial antioxidants are found in various berries such as cherries, blueberries, blueberries and currants.They help reduce the risk of developing Dry Eye Syndrome (DES).
This disease is characterized by a decrease in the production of tear fluid and (or) a change in its composition.Normally, the primonear film should nourish, moisturize and protect the cornea.But due to the lack of tears, they quickly lose stability, become thin or completely atrophy.
Evaporation of tears causes drying of the protective film.Typical symptoms of dry eye appear: itching, redness, burning sensation, burning sensation, lacrimation, foreign body sensation, etc.
Researchers from Japan found Aristotelian chili extract to be the most effective source of eye-healthy antioxidants.It contains Delphiniidines, which have a direct effect on the lacrimal glands and help to improve their activity.They absorb free radicals that damage tear gland cells and neutralize the effects of oxidative stress.It helps reduce the risk of developing diabetic rhinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and other diseases that can cause loss of visual function.
To analyze the inheritance
If one of your relatives (grandparents, parents) had vision problems, there is a chance that this problem will be inherited.This is especially true for macular degeneration, glaucoma, and optic nerve atrophy.
These diseases are mostly genetic in nature.Therefore, if someone in your family had such a diagnosis, you should pay special attention to prevention.
Remember hygiene
Visual organs are very sensitive to infections and pathogenic microbes.Therefore, everything that comes into contact with the eyes should be as clean as possible: hands, towels, handkerchiefs, etc.And of course contact lenses.It is necessary to take care of them, regularly disinfect them and strictly follow the rules for replacing them after the end of their service life.
Lenses should be changed and disinfected regularly according to the manufacturer's recommendations.Otherwise, there is a risk that you will just get an infection in your eyes.