By Steve Roberts 

Improve eyesight  by following a healthy lifestyle is the conclusion of the American Optometry Association's (AOA) annual Eye-Q Survey. Age plays a major factor when caring for vision. Patients in their 30s experience very different eye and vision issues than patients in their 60s. Similar to other organs in the body, the eyes are generally healthy in people in their 20s and 30s. At this age, it's important to take proactive steps to protect eyesight and vision. For example, eating foods rich in six nutrients - antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, essential fatty acids, vitamins C and E and the mineral zinc - can boost eye health throughout life. Foods rich in these nutrients include broccoli, spinach, kale, corn, green beans, peas, oranges and tangerines.

Adding an exercise regimen to one's daily routine is important to keep overall health and vision in shape. Finally, remember to wear sunglasses to protect against harmful UV radiation. Studies have shown that exposure to even small amounts of UV rays over time increases the chance of developing cataracts and other diseases and disorders. In fact, sunglasses are considered one of the most important anti-aging tools. On the negative side, smoking is a bad habit that exposes the eyes to high levels of harmful chemicals and increases the risk for developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts in the future. Hence the conclusion of the survey is that it is possible to improve eyesight  by following a healthy lifestyle.

Speaking about the survey results, optometrist Elise Brisco said "Eating right, exercising and visiting your local eye doctor every year can help keep your eyes and vision strong. Overall, people can help their visual system age gracefully through these preventive tips." An optometrist can easily test patients for proper prescriptions, offer suggestions on how to reduce sensitivity to light and glare and prescribe various treatments to ease the symptoms of these disorders. People often begin to notice vision changes around age 40, with a chief complaint being difficulty seeing while reading or doing close work. This normal change in the eye's focusing ability due to age, called presbyopia, will continue to progress over time. So a healthy lifestyle and an annual eye check can help to improve eyesight  over the long term.

Check if you are suitable for overnight ortho-k corrective contact lenses .