Myopia, or short-sightedness, is an eye condition where objects placed far away tend to appear blurry but the ones that are near to the person appear clear. This condition may develop gradually or rapidly, depending on the patient’s family history.
Myopia in children is most commonly caused due to genetic traits. In the United States and Europe, myopia occurs in about 30-40% of the population, while in Asia, it is as high as 80%.
Although this cannot be completely cured by natural methods, there are ways to lessen it. If you or your family member has been suffering from this condition, here are a few ways to naturally minimize it and make your lives easier.
1. Wear glasses or contacts
One of the most common methods of reducing myopia naturally is to wear glasses or contact lenses as much as possible. This reduces strain in your eyes and helps you have a clearer vision.
Make an appointment with your ophthalmologist and get yourself a pair of glasses that have the required power of lenses.
If glasses are problematic for you, you can even opt for contacts. Tell them about your symptoms (blurred vision, frequent headaches, etc.) to get the lenses that would be appropriate for you.
2. Never under-correct your vision
Many people often ask their physicians to write a prescription that is weaker than the one they actually need. This gives you a vision worse than 20/20 and harms your eyes in the long run.
Contrary to popular belief, this method will definitely not give you a stronger vision or let your eyes adapt and self-correct. So always fill your prescription according to the actual results that you’ve gotten in your eye examinations.
3. Go outdoors
One of the best ways to reduce myopia naturally is to spend time outdoors. This is especially good if children in your house suffer from myopia. Although there is no particular time for playing outside, doctors recommend that an hour or two every day is more than enough.
Even if you or your children don’t like to exercise or play much, you can simply take a walk in the park and appreciate nature. A sunny day is ideal for having a pleasant walk but any kind of weather will do as long as you can spend time outdoors comfortably.
4. Reduce screen time
Reducing the amount of time you spend looking at your laptop or phone not only strengthens your vision but also improves your cognitive and behavioral functions. Close reading distance (20 cms) and extended reading times of more than 45 minutes can strain your eyes and worsen short-sightedness. When you are constantly looking at your screen, take a break every few minutes and look at other things. If possible, adjust your computer brightness or visibility settings and keep the levels as low as possible.
5. Don’t read in dimly lit rooms
Many children often tend to read or study in rooms that have no proper light. If this is the case with you or your children, stop as soon as possible. Never read any book or magazine in a room that has little to no light. Not only will your myopia worsen but you will be troubled with frequent headaches.
6. Eat healthy food
Having a diet rich in vitamins and minerals is ideal for people suffering from myopia. Some of the best food items to consume are deep-water fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, carrots, beans, berries, beef, and nuts or seeds.
Make sure to eat a minimum of one serving of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C, and E daily. If you have a restricted diet, you can ask your doctor for supplements instead.
7. Go for checkups regularly
Myopia or not, you must visit your ophthalmologist at least once or twice a year to understand the condition of your eyes.
Not only will it help to improve your short-sightedness but will also let you know if there are any other underlying issues or not. Adults must visit an ophthalmologist once a year, while children need more frequent visits.
Over to you…
These seven ways will help you overcome your blurred visions and help you lead a stress-free life when it comes to eye problems. Make sure to clean your eyes every day and take proper medication as suggested by your doctor. If you lead a healthy lifestyle right from the beginning, your chances of suffering from myopia will be lesser.
