WAYS TO HELP YOUR EYES
To keep your eyes healthy, says the National Eye Institute, get a dilated eye exam to detect problems early; know your family history and whether you’re at risk for eye disease; wear sunglasses to block out ultraviolet rays that can increase the risk of cataracts; and control your diabetes to prevent damage to the retina. Here are five other surprising things that can help:
Adjust your yoga and sleep position:
Those with glaucoma should avoid head-down positions in yoga (downward facing dog, for example), which can cause a dangerous rise in internal eye pressure, a study last year found. Other studies show that habitually sleeping on one side can cause greater pressure and worsening vision loss in the eye facing downward.
Got dry, irritated eyes? Add more fish to your diet:
The omega-3 oils in fish not only can cut the risk of dry eyes, studies show, but omega-3 fish oil supplements may improve dry eye symptoms. A new study published in the journal Cornea found that taking a daily omega-3 supplement improved dry eye symptoms after six weeks.
Think of it as Vitamin See:
A diet high in vitamin C — oranges, red peppers, strawberries, broccoli — may help curb cataracts by 33 percent. British researchers believe vitamin C helps prevent the clouding of the lens that causes cataracts, but their findings only pertain to vitamin C from food, not supplements.
Send your children outside:
Adults aren’t the only ones with dry eye woes. A new study finds the same problem among children ages 7 to 12 who spend more than three hours daily looking at a smartphone. Playing outside could help. Researchers at the University of Cambridge report that for every hour children play outside in natural light with far-away horizons, they reduce their risk of nearsightedness by 2 percent.
Exercise (and spinach) helps glaucoma:
A brisk walk for 20 minutes four times a week can lower the pressure inside the eye, which helps protect the retina, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. Adding more dark, leafy greens — spinach, kale — to your diet could help too. A recent study found that those who ate the most greens were 21 percent less likely to develop glaucoma.