Vitamins are a great way to support and improve your eyesight, no matter what kind of eye condition you have. We’ve talked extensively about common eye conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, glaucoma and cataracts, but sometimes (often) your eyes just get older and, unfortunately, with age comes natural deterioration.
If you suffer from poor eyesight caused by aging vision, medically known as Presbyopia, then the below remedies and eye strengthening tips are for you!
What is Presbyopia?
Presbyopia is actually the natural loss of the eye’s ability to focus. This tends to happen as people age, and the eye begins to have difficulty seeing close objects clearly. This condition is not a disease! It is very normal, and will most likely happen to everyone as they grow older. Presbyopia can start as early as age 40, but it most commonly starts to happen when you are in your fifties, and sometimes at an even older age.
Presbyopia should not be confused with farsightedness, as presbyopia is brought on with age and has to do with the loss of flexibility within the lens of the eye. Some common symptoms of presbyopia include:
- headaches from working with objects up close
- eye fatigue
- blurred vision at close distances
- inability to read up close
- the need to hold objects further away in order to bring them into focus
If you think you might have presbyopia, do not fear! There are some simple vitamins you can take (as well as eye exercises you can try) to correct your presbyopia!
And if you want to be sure you have presbyopia and not a more serious eye problem, consult your eye care provider for a proper diagnosis. Then move on to these natural, safe treatments!
Vitamins to Help Treat Presbyopia
Why do we recommend vitamins for presbyopia? The treatments your doctor will recommend will usually include the general assortment of glasses, contacts, surgery, or perhaps just reading glasses. But the problem is, none of these treatments actually restore your aging vision.
We recommend vitamins and exercises not only because they are safe, but because they are effective at treating the eye condition itself. By supporting your eyes with the right vitamins and minerals and building stronger eyes through muscle exercise, you can restore your vision and eliminate the need for contacts or glasses!
Eating a healthy diet will get you the balanced nutrition you need for healthy eyes; however, for some people, this may not be enough. Taking a vitamin supplement that is specifically created to support eye health is never a bad option.
If you prefer to take specific vitamins or get your vitamins the natural way, consider getting more omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin A, lutein, and zinc.
Omega-3 fatty acids are really easy to get – just eat fish! Eating healthy servings of grilled fish about three times a week will get you the recommended dosage of omega-3s. Don’t like fish? Simple – take a fish oil supplement!
Vitamin C can be found in a variety of sources, including oranges, guavas, peppers, and kale. As long as you are eating the recommended serving of fruit or dark green vegetables per day (depending on your age and gender), you should be getting enough vitamin C to support your eye health.
Make sure to snack on some oranges if you don’t think you are getting enough! Additionally, some cough drop companies now make vitamin C drops that you can take to get your daily dose in just one piece of candy!
Vitamin A is also essential for healthy eyes, so make sure you are getting enough if you have presbyopia! Some natural sources include sweet potatoes, spinach, greens, and romaine lettuce. Again, consider a supplement if you just cannot change your diet!
Egg yolks and corn are superb sources of lutein and other nutrients that can help with your presbyopia. Finally, for zinc, eat more potatoes, brown rice, yogurt, whole wheat bread, cheese, and drink more milk!
If you make sure you are getting all of the recommended vitamins via natural or supplemental sources, you will be well on your way to preventing or treating your presbyopia.
What Else Can You Do to Cure Presbyopia?
Besides getting proper nutrients, you can perform simple eye exercises to increase the strength in your eyes. These exercises will improve your vision and help you prevent future loss or deterioration. Consider trying our Rebuild Your Vision Program for some simple eye exercises.
Additionally, resting your eyes periodically when you are working on computers or watching television can also help preserve your eyes. When working or staring at a screen for long periods of time, take a break every 10 minutes and always rest your eyes when they feel tired.
Be sure to protect your eyes with sunglasses when you go outside too! All these little things will keep your eyes rested, strong and healthy. Your aging self will thank you!