This “Best Friend” is Ruining Your Eyes—Here Are 6 Foods That Protect Your Vision

Who do you spend the majority of your time with? Is it with your spouse or kids? Is it your best friend? Though people might pick those answers, I believe the actual response is your electronics. Think about it. Your electronics are your best friends, and sometimes there’s no way around it. At work, you might be in front of a computer or your smartphone or tablet is constantly by your side.

The average American spends six to nine hours staring at computer screens every day, according to Prevention.com. I’m willing to bet you are one of them. I am. I spend a lot of my time in front of my computer writing, and I find my eyes slightly hurt. When you constantly stare at something, what are you not seeing?

If you count yourself amongst the majority of people who stare at a digital screen all day, you may have digital eye strain. Your eyes aren’t built to stare constantly at the same thing, and yet we do. Overexposure to artificial blue light for a third or more of your day can cause eye strain and dryness, redness, blurred vision, tired eyes, or headaches. It is a progressive condition that affects nearly 70% of adults that could eventually result in serious eye diseases, says a new vision report from The Vision Council. Top common vision conditions include glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration.

With electronics a major part of today’s society, how can you naturally improve your vision? There are various healthy foods that contain nutrients that are important to solve vision problems. Here are six healthy foods to look for when it comes to your vision.

Are you starting to see why food can be very important to your vision problems? There are various healthy foods to assist with your eye strain and other vision problems. Also, want some more help besides food? After reading this article give your eyes a break and stop staring at your computer. A great eye relief technique is the 20-20-20 rule where every 20 minutes, stare at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Do this and watch your vision problems disappear.


Sources:
Mateljan, G., The World’s Healthiest Foods: Essential Guide for the healthiest way of eating (Seattle: George Mateljan Foundation, 2007), 105, 128, 135, 158, 194, 384, 388, 636.

Heid, M., “The Eye Condition 70% of Adults Have Without Knowing,” Yahoo! Shine Canada web site, Feb. 3, 2014; http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/blogs/healthy-living/eye-condition-70-adults-without-knowing-193700906.html.
“How to Alleviate Eye Fatigue Quickly,” wikiHow web site; http://www.wikihow.com/Alleviate-Eye-Fatigue-Quickly, last accessed Feb. 10, 2014.
Kelly, D., “6 Foods That Improve Your Eyesight,” Reader’s Digest web site; http://www.rd.com/slideshows/improve-your-eyesight-foods-to-eat/#slideshow=slide5, last accessed Feb. 10, 2014.