Improving your vision isn’t just about seeing things clearer.
It’s also about how fast your reaction time is.
If you want to have a sharp and quick vision, read on.
This article shows you 5 steps you can implement today to enhance your visual acuity.
#1 Improve Your Brain First
It’s no exaggeration: your eyes are the extension of your brain. Our eye health can let us in on how our brain works – and vice versa. There’s evidence showing a link between Alzheimer’s disease and poor circulation in the eyes. (1, 2)
Therefore, if you want to keep optimal eye health, make sure your brain is working at its peak too.
Here are some ways you can maintain a healthy brain:
- Regular weightlifting exercise or cardio
- A balanced diet with lots of lean proteins, good fats, and fiber. Along with some complex carbs. Avoid sugars and processed foods which can negatively impact circulation in the eyes.
- Don’t smoke, it can damage the small blood vessels in your eyes, leading to macular degeneration.
Alternatively, you can also take nootropics. These are natural ‘brain-boosters’ which help improve circulation in your brain (among other benefits), which is important for maintaining sharp and quick vision as you age.
#2 Keep Your Eyes Moisturized
Keep your eyes moisturized: This is a simple and effective tip for keeping your vision sharp and fast. When your eyes are dry, not only does your vision become blurry. The reaction speed slows down too. By keeping your eyes moisturized, you reduce the strain on the eyes and improve your visual acuity.
Try sprinkling some water 3-4 times per day in your eyes. You can do that by simply washing your face and eyes with clear water or by using eye drops.
#3 Yes, Eat More Carrots
What they said is true: carrots can really help with your eye health. That’s due to the fact that carrots are full of provitamin A, beta-carotene. See, beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant which protects your eyes from macular degeneration. Keeping your vision sharp, clear, and fast.
Other eye-protective foods include:
- Fish – they have plenty of omega-3 fatty acids which act anti-inflammatory and improve the health of the retina.
- Eggs – Along with vitamin A, eggs also have plenty of lutein and zeaxanthin. These are antioxidants which protect the eye from cataracts and macular degeneration.
- Almonds – Much like with eggs, almonds contain antioxidants such as vitamin E which protects the eye tissue from degradation.
#4 Do Eye Exercises
There are muscles which control the movement of your eyes. And just like any other muscle, they get stronger when you train them. By doing eye exercises, you keep a fast visual reaction speed. This is especially useful with speed reading.
There are a number of eye exercises for speed and acuity, including:
- Thumb-to-thumb glancing – this exercise works on your eye socket muscles that are responsible for your peripheral vision. By doing it, you’ll improve your eye flexibility. How to do it: stick your arms out to your sides with your thumbs pointing upwards. Without turning your head, look back and forth between the thumbs 10 times. Repeat the process for 1-2 rounds in total.
- Eye writing – helps improve eye flexibility and visual acuity. How to do it: look at the wall that’s at least several meters in front of you. Then, using your imagination, write your name on the wall moving your eyes as you’d move a pen.
- Eye squeezing – This exercise improves your vision in several ways: it boosts the blood flow to the eye, makes eye muscles stronger and more flexible, and may enhance visual acuity. The exercise is done in the following way: With a slow and deep inhale, you open your eyes as wide as possible. Then, during the exhale, try closing your eyes and squeezing them as hard as you can. Keep squeezing for 30 seconds. Then release. Repeat the process 3-4 times after taking a break, and you’re done for the day!
#5 Start a Fitness Routine
Here’s the thing: exercise will give you way more than just a good-looking body.
By lifting weights or going out for a jog every day, you improve your brain health, which as we’ve said helps improve your eye health too. But that’s just the beginning.
Training consistently is also shown to improve eye circulation, along with reducing the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Your eye flexibility and reflexes improve, too. (3)
It’s hard to find one aspect of health that exercise doesn’t improve. So don’t forget to include it in your daily routine – even if it’s just for 5 minutes a day!
Conclusion
Keeping your vision sharp and quick all comes down to several basic rules, including:
- Keep your brain fit – your brain and eye health are very much interlinked.
- Do eye exercises daily – these boost your eye’s flexibility and visual acuity.
- Lift weights or do cardio – boosts blood flow to small capillaries in the eyes.
- Eat foods that protect eye health – carrots, eggs, salmon; all of these contain antioxidants which protect the eye from cataracts and macular degeneration.
- Don’t let your eyes stay dry – moisturize them 3-4 times per day if needed. This will relax the eye muscles along with reducing their strain.
So there you have it! If you’d already tried some of these methods, tell us how it worked for you in the comments below.