Eye Health

Our eyesight is a blessing unlike any other that we easily take for granted. In our daily lives, habits have been developed that are detrimental, from straining our eye muscles to developing diseases that affect their condition. Many do not take action until the problem becomes too unbearable.

General Eye Care

Our eyes require special care as they are unlike any other part of our bodies. Eye strain is a common complaint and there are many ways to help prevent it. Taking a break from screens, reading in brighter light, increased blinking (to keep the eyes moist) and getting a good nights rest can help keep the eyes relaxed. There are pressure points outside of the eye sockets and on the sides of the nostrils that can aid in relaxing the muscles around the eyes. You can achieve this by placing the tip of your finger underneath the eyebrow bone and allowing the rest of your finger to follow the curvature of the side of your nostrils. Apply constant but gentle pressure for 30 seconds then release.[1]

Furthermore, taking the time to visit a professional eye doctor to check the current conditions of your eyes and vision is important.  Since many eye issues develop slowly, early detection is essential to help maintain and prevent further eye problems.

Protection

Wearing sunglasses is seen as a fashion statement but in reality, it can protect the eyes from damage due to direct sunlight. When choosing a pair of sunglasses, make sure they will cover your eyes well and have 100% UV protection. Color and darkness of the shades don't really play a big part in UV protection but rather it helps in contrasting the colors we see. (Click here to learn more about how colors in lenses affect the vision.)
Wearing proper eyewear isn't just for preventing direct sunlight damage. When handling chemicals or working with materials that result in scattering particles; wearing protective goggles can prevent eye injury and irritation.

Diseases that affect the Eyes

In many cases, the eyes are affected by other developed and ongoing chronic diseases or disorders.  Autoimmune diseases are known to have symptoms that can have a major effect on the eyes causing inflammation, pressure, tissue build-up or extra fluids around them.[2] This marks the importance of getting the body checked as a whole because the foundation of certain eye problems may not originate in the eyes themselves. For example, blurred vision is a symptom of diabetes. When glucose levels go up, the blood becomes thicker causing fluid from surrounding tissue to be pulled in and affect the vision. Left chronically it can lead to blindness.[3] A way of alleviating this symptom is to bring glucose levels in the blood back to normal.[4,5]

Eating For Your Eyes

A healthy diet is essential for healthy eyes. Eating sugary processed foods leads to bigger problems such as diabetes and obesity which are known to affect the eyes. Increasing the intake of foods that are eye-friendly like leafy greens (kale, spinach, mustard greens) increases the amount of lutein in our body. Lutein is an antioxidant that protects the eye tissues, lens, and macula (an oval-shaped and pigmented area of the eye near the center of the retina).  These veggies also contain great values of vitamin C that protect the vision by fighting free radicals and aiding in the absorption of trace nutrients. Vitamin C works well with vitamin E and A to protect against inflammation and strengthen the cells and tissues. A study was conducted and shown that there was a  lowered risk of cataracts in women who took the vitamins through dietary means and supplements. [6,7,8]

To attain these benefits through the diet, eat foods like:

• sweet potatoes
• carrots
• swiss chard 
• berries
• nuts
• cruciferous vegetables( like brussel sprouts and cabbage)
• Foods that are high in Zinc (Mushrooms, oysters, pumpkin seeds)
• Foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids (chia seeds, walnuts, flaxseeds)

A healthy lifestyle, in general, supports healthy eyes and vision. Age and genes do play a part in eye health but taking part in a preventative lifestyle may keep those particular genes from being activated as mentioned by Dr. Edward Kondrot, president of the Homeopathic and Integrative Medical Association:"Many factors can affect our eyesight, including other health problems. Having a family member with eye disease may mean you’re genetically prone to having that condition as well, but living a healthy lifestyle may prevent the gene from being activated."

Disclaimers

• All product reviews are based on my experiences. Please be advised that everyone may not have the same experience. I am not affiliated with any product or marketing unless otherwise noted. Please check with manufacture disclaimers prior to use of any product.
• All advice, information, and remedies should be taken into severe consideration. Please contact your health practitioner or holistic practitioner if you are struggling with a disease or currently taking any form of medication, pregnant or breastfeeding.
• These statements-unless otherwise noted- have not been evaluated by the FDA