This is general information from published health sources and is not a substitute for medical advice.
Good eyesight depends on regular eye tests, correcting focusing problems early, protecting your eyes, and managing conditions such as diabetes. It does not depend on special foods, eye exercises or eye drops made at home, and some popular remedies can do harm. This guide separates what the evidence supports from what it does not, and explains which symptoms mean you need help straight away.
What you can and cannot change
Short-sightedness, long-sightedness and similar problems are called refractive errors: the eye does not focus light properly. The World Health Organization (WHO) says uncorrected refractive error and cataract are the leading causes of vision impairment, and that at least 1 billion of the 2.2 billion people with near or distance vision impairment could have been prevented or have yet to be addressed. It describes glasses and cataract surgery as among the most cost-effective health interventions.
The NHS describes short-sightedness as hard to prevent. Its treatments are glasses, contact lenses and, for some adults, laser or lens surgery. Its page does not list eye exercises or special foods as treatments, and neither do the WHO or the other sources below. So blurred vision calls for an eye test, not a diet or an exercise plan.
Children need particular attention. The NHS says short-sightedness usually starts between the ages of 6 and 13, and can keep worsening until the eye stops growing, around age 20. Signs include trouble reading the board, sitting close to the TV or phone, headaches and frequent eye rubbing. Spending more time outdoors can help stop it getting worse.
Get your eyes tested
The NHS advises seeing an optician if you or your child has not had an eye test in two years, or sooner if you are worried that your sight is getting worse. The US National Eye Institute (NEI) calls a dilated eye exam "the single best thing you can do for your eye health", because many eye diseases cause no symptoms in the early stages.
Your risk is higher with age, a family history of eye disease, being overweight, diabetes or high blood pressure.
If you have diabetes, do not wait for symptoms. The WHO lists diabetic retinopathy among the leading causes of blindness and says early detection and timely treatment are crucial, so ask your doctor how often you should have your eyes examined. Most people with vision impairment are over 50, so older family members should be tested too.
Screens, dry eyes and long hours
Long computer use can strain your eyes. The NEI suggests a break every 20 minutes to look at something about 20 feet (6 metres) away for 20 seconds. The NHS adds that screens without breaks raise the risk of dry eyes, as do air-conditioned rooms and windy, dry or dusty conditions, which will sound familiar if you commute or work in an air-conditioned office.
The NHS suggests these steps for dry eyes:
- take regular breaks from the TV, phone or computer;
- place the screen just below eye level;
- clean your eyelids every day with warm (not hot) water;
- if you wear contact lenses, switch to glasses to rest your eyes;
- ask a pharmacist which eye drops or gels suit you.
See an optician or doctor if dry eyes continue after a few weeks of home care.
Food and supplements
A balanced diet supports your overall health, including your eyes. The NEI recommends plenty of leafy greens, such as spinach, and fish rich in omega-3 fats, such as salmon and tuna. In an Indian kitchen, that can mean palak, methi, sarson and other seasonal leafy greens. Staying active and keeping a healthy weight also lowers your risk of diabetes, which can damage the eyes.
Carrots and other orange foods are healthy, but none of the sources we checked says they sharpen eyesight or remove the need for glasses.
Eye vitamins are not a general tonic. The NEI's large AREDS and AREDS2 trials tested supplement formulas in people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye condition that damages the centre of vision. The formula reduced progression from intermediate to advanced AMD by about 25% in high-risk people.
It did not prevent AMD from starting, did not affect cataract risk, and AREDS2 excluded people without AMD because earlier data showed no benefit for them. The NEI also warns current and former smokers not to take the older formula, which contains beta-carotene, because it increases the risk of lung cancer. Ask an eye doctor before buying any eye supplement.
Protect your eyes day to day
- Sun: the NEI advises sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays, and wearing them on cloudy days too.
- Smoking: it raises the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts and can harm the optic nerve.
- Safety eyewear: wear safety glasses or goggles for sports, construction and home repairs.
- Contact lenses: wash your hands before handling them, disinfect them as directed, and replace them on schedule. A red eye while wearing lenses could be an infection and needs urgent attention.
Home remedies and eye drops to avoid
Putting home preparations in the eye is common in India. A 2017 population-based study of rural India by Gupta and colleagues found that about one in four adults (529 of 2,055) had used home remedies in their eyes.
Among those users, kajal was the most common (61%), followed by honey (31%), ghee (12%) and rose water (9%). The authors note that traditional eye medicines are thought to raise the risk of corneal infection and ulcers through contamination, damage to the surface of the cornea, and delays in proper treatment.
In their own data, however, the link did not reach statistical significance, so the question is still open.
The same study found that 18% of people used eye drops without consulting an ophthalmologist. When the researchers checked household medicines, 26% of people were using eye drops without a prescription, and among them about one in four used steroid drops and about one in five used expired or unlabelled drops. The authors warn that unsupervised steroid drops can lead to corneal ulcers that do not heal.
So do not put honey, ghee, rose water, breast milk, plant juices or any other home preparation in your eyes. Use only drops that an eye doctor prescribed or a pharmacist advised for your problem, do not share or reuse old bottles, and never use steroid drops without an eye doctor's supervision.
Eye emergencies: do not wait
The NHS says a painful, red eye needs urgent medical advice, and some symptoms are emergencies. Go to an eye hospital or hospital emergency department straight away if you have:
- sudden changes in sight, such as flashing lights, wavy lines or loss of vision;
- pain when you look at light;
- a red eye with severe headache and nausea, or a very dark red eye;
- an eye injury, or something stuck in the eye.
A red eye while wearing contact lenses could be an infection: take the lenses out and get urgent advice. If a chemical splashes into your eye, rinse it with plenty of clean running water while you get help. If you have diabetes and your sight suddenly worsens, treat it as urgent. Ask someone to take you rather than driving yourself.
Related guides: 10 everyday Indian foods that fit a heart-friendly diet, 10 simple ways to ease everyday stress, and when to get help, 5 gentle desk-break exercises for back and neck aches at work.
Frequently asked questions
Can eye exercises cure short-sightedness or remove my glasses?
None of the health bodies we checked lists eye exercises as a treatment for short-sightedness. Glasses, contact lenses or surgery correct the focus. Regular screen breaks can ease strain, but that is comfort, not a cure.
Do carrots or eye vitamins improve eyesight?
A varied diet with leafy greens helps your general health, but we found no evidence that carrots sharpen vision. Supplements have been shown to help only certain people with intermediate or advanced macular degeneration, so ask an eye doctor first.
How often should I have my eyes tested?
The NHS advises a test at least every two years, and sooner if your sight changes. Ask your eye doctor for a shorter interval if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of eye disease.
Is it safe to use kajal, honey or rose water in the eyes?
We do not recommend it. Researchers in India say home eye preparations are thought to raise the risk of corneal infection through contamination and delayed treatment, although the evidence is not conclusive. If your eyes are irritated, ask a pharmacist or eye doctor.
My child sits very close to the TV. Should I worry?
It can be a sign of short-sightedness, along with headaches and frequent eye rubbing. Book an eye test rather than waiting. Outdoor play can help stop short-sightedness getting worse.
Sources
- World Health Organization, "Blindness and visual impairment" fact sheet (dated 10 February 2026): https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment. Read on 13 October 2026.
- NHS, "Short-sightedness (myopia)": https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/short-sightedness/. Read on 13 October 2026.
- NHS, "Dry eyes": https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dry-eyes/. Read on 13 October 2026.
- US National Eye Institute, "Keep your eyes healthy": https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/healthy-vision/keep-your-eyes-healthy. Read on 13 October 2026.
- US National Eye Institute, "About AREDS and AREDS2": https://www.nei.nih.gov/research/clinical-trials/age-related-eye-disease-studies-aredsareds2/about-areds-and-areds2. Read on 13 October 2026.
- Gupta N, Vashist P, Tandon R, Gupta SK, Kalaivani M, Dwivedi SN, "Use of traditional eye medicine and self-medication in rural India: A population-based study", PLoS One, 2017: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5567472. Read on 13 October 2026.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor or another qualified professional about your own health.
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