8 Ways to Improve Your Eyesight

How can you improve your eyesight? Healthy habits protect your eyes and help you keep the sight you have.

Habits will not fix nearsightedness or reverse eye disease. Glasses, contacts and treatment do that job, and these eight habits help you look after your eyes along the way.

Eat Well to Improve Your Eyesight

1. Get key vitamins and minerals.

Vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral zinc matter for eye health. They act as antioxidants, and a diet rich in them may help lower the risk of macular degeneration.

In macular degeneration, the macula, which gives you central vision, starts to wear down. Good food sources include carrots, red peppers, broccoli, spinach, strawberries, sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, and salmon, which has omega-3 fats.

2. Add carotenoids.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants found in the retina. They help protect it from UV and blue light.

You can find them in leafy greens, broccoli, zucchini, and eggs. Ask your eye doctor before you take any supplement.

Stay Active and Manage Your Health

3. Stay fit and active.

A healthy weight and regular exercise help prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. Diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy, where high blood sugar damages tiny blood vessels in the retina.

If those vessels leak, they can harm your sight. Exercise also helps reduce inflammation, which is linked to some eye conditions.

A brisk walk, a swim, or yoga all count, so pick what you enjoy. If you have diabetes, keep up with your diabetic eye exam.

4. Manage chronic conditions. High blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the retina.

Multiple sclerosis can inflame the optic nerve, causing pain and vision loss. Work with your doctor to keep these conditions in check, with a heart-healthy diet, exercise, and medicine as needed.

Protect Your Eyes From Harm

5. Wear protective eyewear.

When you play sports, use power tools, or work in a lab, wear proper eye protection. Polycarbonate lenses are often the best choice, because they are much tougher than regular plastic.

For the sun, choose sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Over the years, UV light can contribute to cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium, a growth of tissue over the white of the eye. See our eyeglass lens options.

6. Follow the 20-20-20 rule.

Long hours on screens can cause digital eye strain, with blurred vision, dry eyes, and headaches. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.

The break lets your eyes relax and refocus. For dry eyes, see our dry eye treatment.

7. Quit smoking.

Smokers have a much higher risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, and both can cause vision loss. Quitting is hard, and your eyes and the rest of your body gain from it over time.

8. Keep your hands and lenses clean.

Wash your hands before you touch your eyes or handle contact lenses. Follow the maker’s directions to clean and disinfect your lenses.

Skip that step and germs can build up and cause an infection. The FDA shares more on contact lens safety.

Improve Your Eyesight With Regular Eye Exams

Seeing your eye doctor on schedule does more for your eyesight than any habit on this list. A complete eye exam finds problems early and updates your prescription. See senior eye exam frequency, then book your eye exam.

Common Questions

What are the best vitamins and minerals for eye health? Vitamins A, C, and E and zinc are key because they are antioxidants that may help lower the risk of macular degeneration.

How do exercise and a healthy weight help? They lower your risk of type 2 diabetes, which can lead to diabetic retinopathy. Exercise also helps reduce inflammation.

What is the 20-20-20 rule? Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. The rule eases digital eye strain.

Why should I know my family’s eye history? Some conditions, like glaucoma and retinal degeneration, can run in families. Knowing your history lets your doctor plan early screening.