Like all parts of the body, the eyes need to be nourished properly. In addition to making sure the eyes are not strained by too much intense work or inadequate light or irritated by exposure to harsh cosmetic products and environmental toxins, proper eye care includes a healthy diet containing sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals.
Here are some tips to maintain healthy functional eyes:
Take a multivitamin and mineral complex with selenium of 200mcg daily as these destroy radicals that can damage the eye.
Vitamin A complex : 15000IU daily no t more than 10000IU if you are pregnant. Because the light absorbing retinal pigment is composed of vitamin A and protein, which are constantly being used up as images are formed, adequate supplies of these nutrients are vital for healty eye function.
Vitamin B complex containing 100mg of each B vitamin daily
Vitamin C with bioflavonoids 2000mg 3 times daily.
Vitamin E 200IU daily
Zinc 50mg daily. Do not exceed 100mg from all supplements daily.
Bilberry extract has been shown to improve both normal and night vision. Have it in tincture form or use and eye cream that contains bilberry.
Include the following in your diet: broccoli, raw cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, green vegetables, squash, sunflower seeds and watercress.
Drink fresh carrot juice which is high in Vitamin A. This can help alleviate some eye problems.
Eliminate sugar and white flour from your diet.
If you wear glasses, wear clear spectacle that have been treated to keep out UV rays. This will help protect against damage from UV exposure. Avoid wearing tinted glasses for this purpose, especially on a regular basis as dark glasses prevent the needed light from entering the eyes. The functioning of the pineal gland which plays an important role in the regulation of metabolism, behaviour and physiological functions, is largely governed by sunlight.
Never use hair dyes containing coal tar on the eyelashes or eyebrows. Doing so can cause injury or blindness. Although coal tar dyes are legal, marketing them for eyebrow or eyelash treatment is not.
Use only natural cosmetic products around your eyes. Products with harsh chemical ingredients can irritate and injure the eyes.
Mascaras, eyeliners and other eye makeup must be kept clean and changed regularly. Never use a mascara that is opened for more than 3 months. If these were at all contaminated with bacteria or other pathogens, you could infect your eye. Regularly wash make-up brushes that you use around your eyes.
The combination of nicotine, caffeine and sugar can cause visual disturbances. Reduce your intake of all 3.
