5 Tricks To Improve Your Night Vision

For many people, especially older people, the beauty of nighttime is getting obscured by a condition called nyctalopia, more commonly referred to as night blindness. Not only can these people not appreciate the beauty of the night, they cannot easily do their regular day-to-day activities like reading, knitting, driving, or even walking at night.

When you go for a regular eye test, your eyesight is checked in good light. In most cases (if not all), the optometrist does not test for night blindness. This is not an ideal practice, considering night blindness can lead to many other health complications.

The most common complication is injuries sustained because you could not see obstacles clearly while driving or walking. These injuries can be minor, or they could be serious enough to land you in a nursing home. Another problem with night blindness is that people lose their confidence, they stay at home as they are afraid to go out, and this could lead to mood problems, joint problems, even digestive problems.

Oysters and shellfish are high in zinc, which works in concert with vitamin A to keep the inner eye healthy and to prevent poor night vision. Fish and shellfish also contain retinol, a form of vitamin A, which boosts night vision.

3. Blueberries

The health benefits of blueberries are seemingly endless, and among these are improved eyesight, particularly at night. Multiple studies out of Europe and Israel confirm that eating blueberries regularly may help improve night vision.

Blueberries are a very rich source of antioxidants. The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) test – one of the most accurate tools available for measuring the antioxidant level of fresh fruits and vegetables – shows that a serving of blueberries introduces more antioxidants into the body than most other fruits and vegetables.

4. Bilberries

These European relatives of blueberries are even more beneficial in fighting against night blindness. Bilberries are rich in anthocyanosides, a form of flavonoid which helps to regenerate the purple pigments in the eye that are used to see in the dark.

Legend has it that British Royal Air Force pilots, after eating bilberry jam for tea, bombed the enemy during the Second World War with devastating accuracy. Their night vision seemed to be heightened by the powers of the inky blue fruit. If you cannot get hold of bilberry jam, buy dried or fresh bilberries and add 1/4 cup to warm or cold cereals and smoothies.

5. Fresh vegetables

The trick here is to consume what I call the rainbow diet with plenty of organic produce. Colorful fruits and vegetables contain lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that destroy free radicals and can compromise night vision. Eat a leafy green salad each day. And yes, have a lot of carrots and tomatoes. If you don’t like eating vegetables, make smoothies and drink in all those nutrients.

And, finally, do as many eye exercises as possible. There is one simple yoga technique called Drishti Sanchalan that I particularly like. A literal translation of Drishti Sanchalan is marching of the eyes. It involves a left, right, left, right movement of the eye followed by an up, down, up, down movement.

A daily routine of eye exercises can dramatically improve both your night and day vision. Remember, seeing clearly is one of the most important gifts of life. And it’s in your hands to enjoy this gift to its fullest. Day or night.

Reprinted with permission from Bel Marra Health.

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