How to Slow Down Age-Related Vision Decline

Around the age of 45, each of us will deal with presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness - a natural vision impairment in which the eye slowly loses the ability to quickly focus on close objects.

It is impossible to prevent this, but it is possible to slow down this process.

In young age, the lens of the eye is elastic and relatively flexible, able to change its length or shape with the help of the muscles that surround it. With age, the lens loses its flexibility, becomes denser and can no longer easily change shape to focus on close-up images.

Symptoms of presbyopia appear in most people after 40 years. The ability to read or perform work with objects located at close range gradually deteriorates. Most often, presbyopia manifests itself in rapid eye fatigue, the need for brighter lighting when reading, difficulties in reading small print, and so on.

Currently, there is no way to prevent presbyopia. However, prescribed treatments, such as eye drops, reading glasses, help reduce symptoms. There are also natural methods to improve the overall health of the eyes.

Seven Simple Steps to Improve Eye Health

Increase your intake of vitamins A, C, and E. It has been proven that vitamin A protects against night blindness, thinning of the cornea and myopia (nearsightedness). It does not slow down the progression of presbyopia, but adding foods with vitamin A to the menu improves eye health. This vitamin is found in dark leafy greens (spinach, kale), as well as in orange and yellow vegetables (sweet potatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, carrots). Vitamin C is an antioxidant found in oranges, cabbage, kiwi and strawberries. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin rich in avocados, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin. These vitamins can protect vision and slow the progression of certain age-related eye diseases.
Consume foods rich in zinc. Zinc helps transport vitamin A from the liver to the retina of the eye. Its deficiency impairs eye health. Zinc is found in oysters, poultry, red meat and many types of fish.
Add foods with lutein to your diet. This antioxidant is associated with improved eye health and reduced prevalence of inflammatory pathology. Its sources are cabbage, peas, egg yolk and pistachios.
Consume more Omega-3 fatty acids. They help the body fight inflammation. Their consumption is also associated with improved eye health. In particular, they can prevent some types of age-related macular degeneration. The source of Omega-3 fatty acids is fish, nuts and seeds.
Wear sunglasses. Solar ultraviolet rays harm the eyes and increase the risk of presbyopia progression. And wearing sunglasses slows down its development. You should also wear glasses to protect your eyes during work when chemicals, dust or debris can get into your eyes.
Do not smoke. Smoking is associated with a wide range of negative health consequences, including the eyes. Quitting smoking (if you smoke) reduces the risk of developing certain eye diseases and improves their overall health.
Rest your eyes. Prolonged time spent in front of a computer or phone screen leads to eye strain. So even small breaks are very helpful. The 20-20-20 method is popular - throughout the day, take your eyes off the screen every 20 minutes and focus your gaze on an object located at a distance of at least 6 meters for 20 seconds.

Although it is impossible to prevent presbyopia, with the help of simple methods, the doctor says, it is possible to postpone the appearance and progression of the manifestations of this condition and maintain eye health for as long as possible.