Just like any other organ in our body, our eyes also need to be taken care of. Having an improved night vision can be beneficial to you, especially when you are doing activities at night such as driving. By improving your night vision, you can avoid a condition known as nyctalopia or night blindness.
Here are some efficient ways to improve your night vision:
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Have a healthy diet
Eating the right foods for your eyes is a must.
Eating Vitamin A rich foods is important for your vision. Vitamin A contains rhodopsin, a light-absorbing protein in the retina. Vitamin A-rich foods may include dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuce. Vitamin A can also be found in dairy products, liver, broccoli, and squash.
Yellow and green vegetables are also rich in antioxidants since they contain zeaxanthin and lutein. These are carotenoids that help in destroying free radicals.
It is recommended to consume fish and shellfish. Fish is rich in Vitamin A and is an excellent and nutritious source of DHA, an omega 3-fatty acids. DHA comprises as much as half of the photoreceptors in the retina. Among these fish that are rich in DHA includes wild salmon, sardines, codfish, and herring. To further prevent poor night vision, eat zinc-rich foods such as oysters and shellfish. Zinc works hand-in-hand with Vitamin A.
Research suggests that eating anthocyanin-rich foods such as bilberries helps combat against night blindness. Anthocyanin helps to revitalize the purple pigments in the eye.
To protect your eyes from cataract formation which is one of the causes of night blindness, consuming foods that are rich in cysteine, lecithin, and sulfur may help you do so.
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Do some eye exercises
Make it a habit of doing some eye exercises daily. It is recommended to do these exercises after waking up, before going to bed, or anytime your eyes feel tired. These exercises improve your optimal vision and help you strengthen your eye muscles and boost your peripheral vision.
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Give your eyes a rest once in a while
Whenever your eyes feel tired from reading a book or looking at computer screens, it is best to rest your eyes. For every 50 minutes of your time doing some activities like the ones mentioned above, rest your eyes for 10 minutes. When your eyes feel exhausted, lie down on bed or sofa, slice some cool cucumbers and place them over your eyelids.
A good night’s sleep is proven beneficial to your eye health as well. Our eyes need to fully rest to recover.
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Avoid smoking
According to studies, nicotine from cigarettes can halt your eyes from producing rhodopsin, a pigment responsible for night vision. Smoking can also cause eye diseases and blindness.
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Massage your eyes
Gently massage your eyes by tightly closing it and applying a slight pressure on both of your eyes through the fleshy part of your palm. Keep it still for about five to ten seconds. Momentarily, your vision will turn white. As soon as the white fades and black returns, open your eyes. You will experience a better vision in the dark.
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Protect and strengthen your vision
Exposure to bright sunlight in daytime can reduce the degree of your night vision since it diminishes the ability of your eyes to adjust to the darkness. It is best to wear sunglasses to minimize the exposure of your eyes to bright sunlight.
Keep the brightness of your computer screen or smart phones lower, especially when you are in a very dark room. These devices can reduce your night vision.
Before entering a dark environment close your eyes first. Give some time for your eyes to adjust to the dark. Any source of light can hamper your adaptation to the dark, so be sure to stay away from it.
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Talk to your doctor
See an ophthalmologist and an optometrist right away when you have problems with your night vision. Night blindness can be caused by some other eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma. Seeing a physician and knowing how to treat it right away can help cure what is ailing you fast and prevent further damage.
