It’s a question heard in optometry clinics around the world: “Doc, can I improve my eyesight without lenses?”
It’s somewhat of a “yes and no” question. But at the end of the day, it’s more ‘no’ than ‘yes’. The vast majority of eyesight problems are progressive and physical in nature. For example, near- and far-sightedness are both caused by the eyeball slowly losing its shape over time, throwing off its internal focus.
Unfortunately, there are no proven non-surgical methods for preventing this sort of vision loss. There are various techniques promoted, generally called “The Bates Method,” which promise “natural” eyesight improvement. However, controlled optometry tests have failed to ever show these techniques to be effective.
Nearly all the best tips for improving your eyesight are preventative: Not looking at the sun, wearing protective goggles when appropriate, and so on. Preventing eye damage is the best way to “improve” your eyesight.
Nonetheless, there are still a couple things you can do:
Eat For Healthy Eyes
If there is an inarguable way to improve your eyesight, it’s through your diet. The ability of your eyes to quickly adapt to high- and low-light conditions is specifically tied to what you eat.
Dark green and yellow-orange vegetables are the key here. Spinach, kale, pumpkins, and carrots are just a few of the veggies that legitimately promote better eyesight. Adding them to your diet will definitely help your eyes.
Hard Contact Lenses
Progressive vision loss can be slowed in some cases with hard contact lenses. While less comfortable to wear for long periods than gas-permeable “soft” lenses, hard lenses force your eyes to maintain their proper shape.
It doesn’t exactly “improve” your eyesight, but optometry has demonstrated it will slow down your vision loss.
