Don’t reach for those readers yet!

11 years ago | Nutrition

By pH health care professionals

It’s a fact of life. As you age, many people start to notice that their vision isn’t quite what it used to be. Things start getting fuzzier and routine tasks like reading a menu or a newspaper become a challenge. When this happens, your first thought probably would be to get your eyes checked and either get glasses for the first time or get stronger ones if you already have them. You also may decide join the millions who have had corrective eye surgery to get their 20/20 back.

But before calling your eye doctor or scheduling surgery, consider asking yourself whether there are any natural ways to improve your eyesight and, if they exist, are they effective?

Reduce eyestrain

Many vision issues stem from a common problem – eyestrain. Eyestrain has become a persistent issue in recent years, especially as people are spending more and more time up close throughout the day in front of computer screens and phones. Focusing on objects up close over extended periods of time really does a number on the eyes.

In addition to taking breaks from staring at the screen and making sure to change your focus throughout the day, you can also try pinhole glasses to relieve eyestrain and improve your vision. The basic concept is that natural blurring occurs in the cornea. Because the cornea is rounded, light rays enter the eye from different angles and can cause some blurring. When light can only enter in certain restricted angles through the pinholes of the glasses, this reduces blurring and can temporarily improve vision. In a recent study in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, pinhole glasses were shown to improve visual acuity, depth-of-field and focus. However, in the study, the glasses did cause some decreased visual quality. As a result, it is not recommended that you wear them while driving, playing sports or working with instruments.

Give your eyes their vitamins!

Your eyes, like the rest of your body, need their vitamins and minerals to perform at their best. There are a variety of nutrients that may help promote healthy vision. But before you go stocking up, check your current supplements for the following to see if you are already getting some of them on a daily basis in the recommended dosages:

Vitamin C, 250 mg
Vitamin E, 200 mg
Beta-carotene, 5,000 IU
Zinc, 25 mg
Zeaxanthin, 500 mcg
Selenium, 100 mcg
Lutein, 10 mg
Calcium, 500 mg
Thiamin, 2 mg
Folic acid, 800 mcg
Omega-3 essential fatty acids (including flaxseed oil), 2,000-3,000 mg
N-acetyl cysteine, 100 mg
Alpha lipoic acid, 100 mg

Enjoy Your Healthy Life!

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, attorneys, nutritionists, nurses and certified fitness instructors. This team also includes the members of the pH Medical Advisory Board, which constantly monitors all pH programs, products and services. To learn more about the pH Medical Advisory Board, click here.