There are several things you can do in your daily life to ensure your eyes stay in the best shape possible. About 2.2 billion people around the world have vision impairment, and in approximately half of those cases, eye issues could have been prevented. In many ways, your eye health is in your own hands.
We’ve compiled a list of simple tips you can and should incorporate into your life, for the sake of protecting and preserving your vision. These practices will not only serve your sight, but they will bolster your overall health, too.
10 tips for strong eye health
1. Eat a balanced diet The old adage, “you are what you eat,” has truth to it when it comes to eye health. Maintaining a balanced diet is essential for general well-being, but it also expressly benefits ocular health. Consuming a diet rich with nutrients—including omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E—has shown to improve eye health, while staving off various eye-related ailments, such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Plus, eating a balanced diet will reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes—which is the leading cause of blindness.
Some foods, in particular, have shown to benefit eye health, including:
● Dark, leafy green (such as kale and spinach)
● Salmon and other fatty fish
● Red peppers
● Nuts and seeds
● Sweet potatoes
● Lean protein sources
● Eggs