The most common eye conditions are caused by aging, external damage, or microbes. So, the ideal eye health diet should contain nutrients that hydrate the eye tissues, promote their self-healing capacity, and improve your body’s ability to fight off infectious agents. Here are the 7 nutrients you can start with:

• Vitamin A: This is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for good vision. It helps to maintain the health of the cornea, which is the outermost layer of the eye.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: These are essential fatty acids that are important for overall eye health. They help to prevent dry eye syndrome and may also reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
• Lutein and zeaxanthin: These are two carotenoids that are found in high concentrations in the macula, which is part of the retina responsible for central vision. They help to protect the eyes from damage caused by free radicals.
• Vitamin C: This is a water-soluble vitamin that is important for maintaining the health of the blood vessels in the eye. It also helps to prevent cataracts.
• Vitamin E: This is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect the eyes from damage caused by free radicals.
• Zinc: This mineral is important for the proper functioning of the retina and may also help to prevent cataracts.
• Gamma-Linolenic Acid: An anti-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acid that helps prevent dry eyes, Glaucoma, and Diabetic retinopathy.

Eye problems can creep up on you when you least expect them. And oftentimes, the beginnings are rather unnoticeable. Blurred sight, double vision, eye pain, redness, itchiness or soreness, sensitivity to light, difficulty seeing at night, and halos can easily turn into the gravest of eye problems if they are not addressed in time. The only way to pull this through is to work in conjunction with your eye doctor to identify and curb the triggers that open this Pandora’s box for you. 

Improving your eye health is a three-way process that needs a conscious diet, lifestyle, and supplement schedule. Here are some essential steps you can include in your personal plan:

• Get regular eye exams: It's important to get your eyes checked regularly by an optometrist or ophthalmologist to detect any potential vision problems and correct any existing ones.
• Eat a healthy diet: Eating a diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids can secure that gleam in your eyes for all the days to come.
• Exercise your eyes: Eye exercises, such as focusing on distant objects, blinking rapidly, and rolling your eyes in different directions, can help improve optic muscle strength.
• Take breaks from digital screens: Spending too much time staring at digital screens can cause eye strain and fatigue. Taking regular breaks and using the 20-20-20 rule (looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes) can help reduce these symptoms.
• Quit smoking: Smoking can increase your risk of developing several eye conditions, including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Time to shun the smoke for a better life!