Eye health is like any other part of your body. There are natural remedies that may help hold off surgeries and keep your eyes healthy longer. These natural remedies are not the end all be all to eye health, however, they are methods to help improve or maintain your eye health naturally and help you avoid medical treatment for a bit longer. Since there is a large population of people who would like to avoid surgery whenever possible, it is important to address these holistic options and the benefits they hold.
The 20-20-20 Method for Improved Eye Health
There is a method that is commonly referred to at the 20-20-20 method. This refers to the amount of time you spend looking at a screen. In today’s world, staring at a computer screen is inevitable. However, that does not mean you must stare at the screen all day without any break. If you wish to naturally improve your eye health, you must take a break. It is recommended to stare at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds for every 20 minutes you spend staring at the computer. This helps your eyes refocus and work the eye muscles in a different manner that they were being worked. This is the equivalent of taking a break for 20 seconds when doing 20 reps on a machine at the gym.
Diet is a Natural Remedy to Improving Eye Health
Your diet matters. If you are looking to improve your eye health, ingesting foods that are high in antioxidants and beta-carotene will help. Foods like kale, carrots, and berries, among others, will help keep your eyes strong for years to come while keeping eye infections at bay.
Work your Eye Muscles
Glasses are like a crutch for your eyes. They help your eyes see and are necessary to keep you from having accidents in life. However, when you are at home, sitting, you may be able to take your glasses off to “exercise” your eye muscles. While this will not improve your eyesight, it may help prevent worsening eye health. However, you should not go too long without your glasses, as your eyes will worsen as they work too hard to try to function. Therefore, it is important to follow the fine line between working your eye muscles slightly and overdoing it, causing damage to the eyes.
Warm Compresses Help Your Eye Health
There is hardly an ailment in which a warm compress cannot do some good. Your eye health is no different. Warm compresses on your eye can help decrease eye dryness, improving your overall eye health and comfort. The moisture actually helps your eyes relax. This is not a catch all to the problem of eye dryness, however, it can help in a pinch when you feel your eyes may be excessively dry and you may not have access to artificial tears.
Natural remedies to help improve eye health are wonderful additions to your regular eye health routine, which should include regular eye exams and discussions with your eye doctor. While nothing will replace the need to have your eyes screened and corrective eye wear and procedures, taking care of your eyes by eating right and exercising the muscles will certainly add a benefit. If you are looking to speak to an eye doctor you can trust, contact the experts at Rittenhouse Eye Associates at (215) 525-6821.
