How to keep a Good Eyesight for Speed Reading

If you want to read fast then you have to see well what you are reading. It is extremely difficult to speed read if you do not have good eyesight. As we usually read texts from near distances then you need good near vision for being a fast reader. Being short-sighted is actually not a problem as when you are reading at 30 or 35 centimeters then it does not matter if you can see well at longer distances, for example 2 meters or 200 meters.

Unfortunately near vision tends to get worse, when people get older. Many of us start developing near vision problems in forties or fifties. And then we have to start wearing glasses while reading in order to see the text clearly. Having to wear glasses itself is not an obstacle to speed reading. But in many cases near vision problems are likely to progress when people get old and new prescriptions of glasses are needed after every couple of years. So it can happen that at some age you eyesight gets so poor that even when wearing glasses you will not be able to see the text clearly. And from that point on it becomes really difficult for you to read fast or read at all.

Fortunately there are many things that you can do in order to prevent the loss of eyesight. Many factors such as our life style, nutrition and reading habits affect our eyesight.

In order to tackle eye problems fast you should let your eyesight checked at least once a year. If you can not see the text you read clearly then you will be prescribed glasses, which can increase your reading speed significantly. If you have to wear glasses for reading then be sure to wear them always while reading or working with computer.

Do not read while lying on a bed or sofa. When you do so then it is difficult to keep an equal and optimal distance between the text and your eyes. In addition your eyes will be looking upwards instead of looking slightly downwards as they should normally do when you are reading. It causes your eye muscles to become tired fast.

Do not read in a moving vehicle. Some people are used to read while riding on a bus, but in that case you cannot keep a constant distance between the text and your eyes. Again it creates pressure for your eye muscles. The result is that your eyes will become tired and if you practice that kind of reading habit regularly, it may trigger eyesight problems.

Read in proper light conditions. Be sure that there is enough light for you to see the text clearly. At the same time very bright light is also not good as it irritates your eyes. Get yourself a good reading lamp. There should also be a background light in the room as it will cause your eyes to get tired if there is a sharp contrast between the brightly lit reading area or computer screen and the dark background.

Have enough physical activities. Live an active life style and practice sports. If you read a lot then it a good idea to practice sports, where you have to look at longer distances. Playing football or basketball will help as when playing them your eyes are focus on much longer distances in comparison to the ones when you are doing office work. It allows your eyes to rest.

Your eyes need the right diet. Many of us have heard that eating carrots helps you to improve your eyesight. You will get vitamin A from carrots, but your eyes also need vitamins C and E. You can find vitamin C in most fruits and vegetables, while vitamin E is found mainly in foods of plant origin such whole grains, nuts, peanut butter, salad dressings and vegetable oils.

In addition, your eyes also need fatty acid and it is important that you will eat food containing monosaturated fat. Many people minimize their fat consumption in order to lose weight, but eating zero fat is not good for your eyes. You should not exclude fat from your diet. You can find monosaturated fat in olive oil, canola and peanut oils, avocados, olives and many nuts and seeds.