Tips For Healthy Eyes

The eyes are incredibly complex, delicate and amazing structures that allow us to witness the world around us. As we age, the eyes change and, like every organ, gland, and system, require some added support to help them function optimally.

Here are eight tips to help support your eyes and to prevent eye problems.

1- For every 45 minutes of reading, take a 10-minute rest: Look into the distance for a couple of minutes or alternate looking in the distance and at something closer to you. Get up and walk around. This is important for the muscles of the eye; they get tight just like any muscle. Imagine if you were lifting bags for long periods of time. Your arms would get tired. Give your eyes a breather and let them relax.

I would also suggest palming your eyes: Rub your hands together briskly for 15 seconds. Close both eyes and gently place each palm diagonally over each eye, putting the fingers of one hand over the fingers of the other hand on your forehead. Let the heat from your hands bathe your eyes and focus on the darkness. When the heat dissipates, you can do it again. Do this three times.

2- Eye exercises: bring your eyes from the center to the 12 o'clock position. Very slowly and gently move your eyes clockwise and stop at each hourly position. Coordinate your breath as you move down from the 12 position to the 6 position to be one slow exhale, then one slow inhale as you move up from the 6 to the 12 position. When you have completed three circles, stop at the 12 o'clock position, center your eyes and close them for a 15-second break. Then move your eye counterclockwise in the opposite direction for the next set.

Another option is to draw a figure eight at eye level and follow your finger with both eyes. Make sure the finger is moving in an upward direction as it passes through the center of the figure eight.

3- Eye drops to help and prevent eye problems: Numerous eye problems like cataracts and certain types of eye floaters are the result of the aging process. Cataracts involve the lens slowly becoming more opaque, which causes blurriness. Floaters are tiny irregular dark shapes that appear to move through one's field of vision. Most floaters are not serious, although a sudden appearance of multiple floaters should be looked at by an eye doctor.

Floaters can be caused by the vitreous humor reducing in size. This is a gel-like substance in the back of the eye. Natural eye drops that contain MSM, Vitamin C, N-acetyl carnosine, and glutathione can help to nourish the lens and vitreous humor and support overall eye health.

4- Normalize your blood sugar: Too much sugar in your blood can pull fluid from the lens of your eye, affecting your ability to focus. It can also negatively impact your retina. High fructose-containing foods and fruits should be eliminated from the diet.

5- Acupressure points for eye health: Take two fingers to the outer edge of each nostril and apply firm rotatory pressure for one minute on each point. Go to the bridge of the nose and then move towards the inner part of the eye orbit. Put firm rotatory pressure on this point for one minute on each side. Another point to put firm rotatory pressure on is the mid-eyebrow.

6- Eat foods that are high in Lutein and Zeaxanthin: Eggs, spinach, and dark leafy greens contain these vital antioxidants, which help prevent macular degeneration and many other eye-related problems. You can also take nutritional supplements that have these key antioxidants. There are great eye formulas out there that contain these antioxidants.

7- Herbs that support eye health: Bilberry has been studied and found to increase retinal pigment that allows the eye to tolerate light. It strengthens the capillaries walls in the eye and helps to balance blood sugar. Eyebright or Euphrasia has been documented to help inflammatory conditions of the eyes.

8- Nutritional supplements: Astaxanthin is found in microalgae and protects them from solar radiation. Astaxanthin and many other supplements can support the health of the eye.

Dr. Louis Granirer is a leading Holistic Chiropractor in NY and Nutrition Response Testing Practitioner specializing in holistic remedies for good health maintenance and prevention of disease. Visit his website at HolisticChiropracticCenter.com to learn more.