7 Easy Ways To Get Better Eyesight

ps Natural Vision Improvement markets itself as a lifestyle method of improving eyesight by wholistic means

photo credit: issifma

Improve Your Vision-and Your Life-in the New Year

Welcome to a new year. As we open our calendars to a fresh, white page, it’s easy to get caught up in a jumble of self-improvement projects. That jam-packed garage, those extra 10 pounds, the clutter on your desk, the box of photos from last year’s vacation-there’s so much to do, it’s hard to even know where to start!

But before you go crazy making resolutions and to-do lists, remember that it’s often the small things that count the most. Taking care of the basics-your health, for starters-allows you to take care of everything else. Our list gives you seven simple ways to improve not only your vision, but your all-around feel-good factor. Then you just might be ready to tackle that garage!1. Get to sleep. We all know we need our sleep-just as we know that most of us don’t get enough-but why are those Zs so important? According to Harvard University’s HealthBeat, sleep makes us better learners, for one, allowing the brain to commit new information to memory. It also keeps us safe in our waking hours, as anyone who’s ever fallen asleep at the wheel knows. It protects our hearts: Serious sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and cardiac arrhythmias. And it boosts our immunity: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. The amount of sleep we need varies from person to person, but whatever the amount, it’s estimated that most people need 60 to 90 minutes more sleep than they presently get.

2. Stay hydrated. It might not seem like it, but water is the most necessary nutrient of all-so necessary that people can’t survive for more than a few days without it. Water is needed to regulate body temperature and carry nutrients to all our organs. Water also transports oxygen to our cells, removes waste, and protects our joints and organs. Inadequate lubrication of your eyes can be caused by dehydration which may lead to irritated, red, itchy eyes and decreased visual acuity. Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic joint and muscle pain, lower back pain, headaches, and constipation, though you need to drink water long before you feel thirsty. How much water is enough? A good estimate is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water that you need to drink per day. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds, you should drink at least 60 ounces of water per day.

3. Wear sunglasses. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Wearing sunglasses is one of the best things you can do to protect the health of your eyes. Sunglasses help you in two important ways: Sunglasses reduce the total amount of light reaching the eye and, in particular, protect the eye from the damaging ultraviolet (UV) part of the spectrum. Long-term exposure to UV rays can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration, or skin cancer around the eyelids.

Make sure your sunglasses have a statement on the label telling you how much UV protection they offer. The American Optometric Association offers a Seal of Acceptance for sunglasses that block 99 percent to 100 percent of UV radiation. Look for this seal to be sure you are getting the maximum protection.

4. Reduce stress. Stress has been called the “silent killer.” Over two-thirds of office visits to physicians are for stress-related illness. It is a major contributing factor, either directly or indirectly, to coronary artery disease, cancer, respiratory disorders, accidental injuries, and most importantly, depletion of our overall well-being. How can you reduce stress in your life? Take a hot bath. Spend time with loved ones. Exercise. Breathe deeply. There are as many ways to reduce stress as there are people.

5. Practice the 10-10-10 Rule while at the computer and reading. Talk about stress-spending the day hunched over the computer, as many of us do, not only makes us tired and cranky but also damages our eyes. We can’t quit our jobs, but we can learn to take a break. Here’s how: Place a piece of masking tape on your computer or book with “10-10-10″ written on it to remind you to perform the 10-10-10 Rule: Every time you are performing close vision work for over 10 consecutive minutes, look up and focus on anything that is at least 10 feet away, for at least 10 seconds. This simple rule helps to prevent the damaging effects of near-point stress and could literally save your eyesight!

6. Exercise your eyes. We believe that by taking care of your body you also nourish your mind and soul. Just as you exercise your body at the gym or practice yoga in order to improve muscle tone, agility, range of motion, and flexibility, so too do the eyes benefit from daily exercise. If you are ever tempted to skip the few minutes a day it takes to do your eye exercises, remember the words of Lao-Tzu: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, you can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals. And when the goal is improving your vision, it’s worth achieving!

7. Take a good daily vitamin. In today’s fast-food, on-the-go world, we don’t always get the nutrients we need. A good daily vitamin can make a huge difference in our health and well-being. Our new Ocu-Plus Formula was developed using the most current nutritional wisdom and is loaded with all the things you need to maintain healthy vision, such as Vitamins A, C, and E; the powerful antioxidants quercetin, ginkgo biloba, and eyebright; and the essential dietary carotenoids zeaxanthin and lutein. One small pill, one big boost to your eyes! Learn more about Ocu-Plus by clicking here.

To your vision – for life,

Orlin Sorensen