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Habits for Better Vision: 20 Scientifically Proven Ways to Improve Your Eyesight Naturally

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A Fresh Perspective on Viewing Myopia.

Myopia (nearsightedness) has become an epidemic, and is expected to affect nearly 5 billion people by 2050. When facing a myopia diagnosis, most people feel they have no choice but to get prescription lenses. But are glasses and contact lenses really the only solution? Is your myopia truly incurable? Are your genes problematic?

No! Through scientifically proven facts, this book shows you how to change your beliefs, body, mind, environment, lifestyle, nutrition, and habits to prevent myopia and improve your eyesight holistically and naturally. It will show you how to:

Jump start your journey towards better vision.

Prevent myopia when your vision is perfect.

Halt myopia progression or even reverse myopia naturally. 

Modify your lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, posture, habits, and behavior to improve your eyesight.

Understand the role of stress, emotion, and mind in natural vision improvement.

Harness the best prevention and cure of myopia—sunshine, nature and more.

Form new daily habits and routines to promote your eye health and general well-being.

John F. Kennedy said, “the best time to repair your roof is when the sun is shining.” The best time to prevent myopia is when your vision is perfect. But don’t lose hope if you already have myopia. “Where there is a will, there is a way.” This book will help you to find your “way” to return to your ideal vision. 

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2019

138 people are currently reading
56 people want to read

About the author

Aileen Yi Fan

4 books1 follower
Aileen Yi Fan is a committed lifelong learner and
an advocate for change. She holds a bachelor’s
degree in biomedical engineering and a master’s
degree in business administration. As the owner of
a boutique marketing and PR agency serving small
businesses, she believes that she teaches what she needs to learn the most. The books are perfect examples of her invest-learn-teach formula. Aileen loves sharing her life experiences, challenges, and lessons so like-minded people can gather, learn, and inspire each other. Her two beautiful children, Ian and Amy, inspire her to be the best version of herself, and to make a little progress every day—physically, emotionally, intellectually, and
spiritually.

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Bharath.
953 reviews636 followers
November 4, 2022
This book has a lot of good common-sense advice for preventing and arresting myopia. The number of people with myopia is zooming worldwide and our lifestyles and habits are to blame – desk work, gadgets, poor lighting, diet and lack of quality sleep, outdoor exposure & exercise.

I would not say I came across anything very new in terms of advice. This book is however neatly organized and cites the author’s own experiences and that of her family. There are references to other sources and advice on a holistic lifestyle to limit the chances of myopia, rather than reconciling to glasses which tend to acquire higher powers progressively.

My rating: 3.5 / 5.
Profile Image for Healthypedia.
218 reviews10 followers
November 7, 2023
Unlock the secrets to better vision and discover how to defy the myopia epidemic with ‘Habits for Better Vision’ by Aileen Yi Fan.

Myopia, or nearsightedness, has seen a significant rise globally. In 2000, approximately 1.6 billion people were affected, expected to increase to nearly 5 billion by 2050. Developed countries in East and Southeast Asia have particularly high rates, ranging from 80-90% in young adults.

Factors associated with myopia include near work, education, age, economic status, and height. While some believe myopia is hereditary, its prevalence in pre-industrialized cultures suggests environmental and social factors play a role. The rapid increase in myopia cases can be traced back to imbalances in modern society, affecting physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects.

Although optics or surgery can correct most myopia cases, normal and high myopia remain unsolved medical issues. In her book ‘Habits for Better Vision’ Aileen Yi Fan explores the problem of nearsightedness and the ways to combat this problem.


Author’s background

Aileen Yi Fan is a dedicated lifelong learner and agent of change. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and a master’s degree in business administration, she embodies the spirit of constant growth.

As the founder of a boutique marketing and PR agency that caters to small businesses, she embraces the philosophy of ‘invest-learn-teach.’ This book exemplifies her commitment to sharing knowledge and experiences, as she firmly believes in teaching what she herself needs to learn the most.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Aileen finds inspiration in her two beautiful children, Ian and Amy. They motivate her to continually strive for self-improvement in all aspects of life – physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. With their influence driving her, she endeavours to make progress each day, enriching her life and the lives of those around her.


What is the book about?

‘Habits for Better Vision: 20 Scientifically Proven Ways to Improve Your Eyesight Naturally’ explains what is myopia, the dangers and the causes behind it. Aileen Yi Fan provides detailed information on the core habits to optimise your eyesight. She presents 20 powerful habits that you can incorporate into your daily life to achieve a better vision. You don’t have to implement all 20 at once; start with one and witness the results before moving on to the next. Alternatively, Aileen guides you on how to combine these habits through habit stacking for even greater benefits.


Key takeaways from ‘Habits for Better Vision’

1. Myopia has become an epidemic in many parts of the world

The shift in lifestyle has led to a widespread myopia epidemic across the globe. In the United States, 41.6% of people are nearsighted, with young Americans experiencing rates as high as 60%. The prevalence is even more alarming in developed East and Southeast Asian countries, where 80 to 90% of children with 12 years of schooling are affected.

Projections indicate that nearly 50% of the world’s population may be myopic by 2050. Studies attribute the rising myopia rates primarily to lifestyle factors, especially increased time spent on near-work activities like electronic device usage. Digital education systems in schools have further contributed to the rise in myopia cases among children.

2. Nourish your eyes with good nutrition

The key to maintaining healthy eyes and body is a whole food diet, rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Avoid processed foods with refined carbohydrates and sugars that can cause chronic inflammation. Opt for nutrient-rich fats like those found in avocados and omega-3-rich fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel. Incorporate fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, which are full of vitamins and minerals beneficial for eye health. Consider supplementing with vitamins and minerals, depending on your overall dietary pattern. Prioritise real, living foods over processed options for better health and vision.

3. Get enough sleep for healthy eyes

Sleep influences vision, with studies linking sleep duration to myopia. More sleep appears to reduce myopia’s severity. High myopic children tend to be late and short-sleepers, raising concerns about their overall health and development. Technology can disrupt sleep quality, especially when using electronic devices before bedtime. Blue light emitted by screens negatively affects the sleep-wake cycle and reduces melatonin production. Electromagnetic fields from mobile phones may also impact brain activity during sleep.

To prioritise sleep, stick to a consistent sleep schedule, aiming for eight to ten hours for children and teenagers. Create a sleep-conducive environment by keeping the room cool, quiet, and dark. Limit the use of electronic devices before bedtime and avoid having them in the bedroom.

4. Mind your posture for better eyesight

Your posture and eyesight are interconnected. The eyes are part of the central nervous system, linked directly to the brain. Maintaining good posture allows smooth communication between the eyes, brain, and spine. On the other hand, poor posture can impact the connection quality between the spinal cord and the brain, affecting eyesight.

Studies show that certain postures may lead to myopia progression. Reading while slouched or with eyes turned downward could be connected to greater myopic progression in children. Good posture offers additional benefits such as increased lung capacity, improved circulation, and enhanced confidence. High-power poses have been shown to increase feelings of confidence and reduce stress hormones. To improve your posture, use a mirror and practice awareness.

5. Practice 20-20-20 rule

Research shows that prolonged screen time leads to various issues, like headaches and dry or irritated eyes. The 20-20-20 rule, coined by Dr. Jeffery Anshel, offers a simple solution to alleviate these symptoms. For every 20 minutes of near work (screen time, reading, writing), take a 20-second break and focus on something 20 feet or more away. This helps relax the eye muscles and prevent discomfort. By periodically looking into the distance, blinking, and taking deep breaths, eye strain can be reduced.

People with perfect vision shift their focus frequently, keeping their brains engaged. Following the 20-20-20 rule not only benefits eye health but also stimulates the brain.

6. Engage in eye exercises for better vision

Consistent exercise, even just fifteen minutes a day, offers significant health benefits. It improves circulation, oxygen supply, and overall well-being, including for the brain and eyes. When the body is healthy, the eyes benefit as well. In addition to general exercise, eye exercises specifically target myopia prevention and reversal.

7. Reduce your reliance on prescription lenses

Eyeglasses are commonly used to correct myopia, but it’s advisable to limit their usage to two to three hours a day, preferably for distance vision only. Children wearing glasses for close-up work may develop lens-induced myopia. Under-corrected prescriptions can also be requested, allowing for 20/40 visual acuity and room for natural vision improvement.

Contact lenses offer advantages, especially for active children in sports, but they also come with drawbacks such as discomfort, infections, and corneal ulcers. To minimize risks, reduce the time you wear contact lenses and avoid using them near work. Always prioritise the health of your cornea and eyes by providing breaks from contact lenses.

8. Manage your stress for clear sight

Studies have shown that stress can have detrimental effects on the body and weaken the immune system, leading to various health problems. When it comes to eye health, stress can exacerbate issues like myopia development and refractive errors.

By adopting healthy stress management techniques, we can improve our overall well-being, including our eye health. One useful practice is the use of third-person self-talk. Research has shown that using our own names instead of the pronoun ‘I’ during introspection and self-talk can help regulate emotions and reduce stress. Creating a psychological distance between ourselves and our experiences can lessen the impact of stressful situations on our emotional state.

9. Embrace the outdoors for better eye health

Researchers have proposed that spending more time in natural light boosts dopamine release in the retina, which in turn helps reduce eye growth, a key factor in myopia development. This hypothesis has been further supported by laboratory studies on experimental myopic animals.

Furthermore, studies have highlighted that intense education and limited outdoor activities are major contributing factors to the myopia epidemic. By encouraging children to play outside, we not only combat myopia but also address other critical health concerns like childhood obesity, juvenile diabetes, and depression.


Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews

Strengths:
• Backed up by scientific research, the author’s own investigations, and years of practical experience.
• Offers very helpful and simple tools to heal vision naturally.
• Great writing style, which is pleasurable to read.
• The introduction is packed with background information that is worth reading.

Weaknesses:
• Contains repetitive pieces: some information is often carried over to the next chapter or the one after that.
• Not all the tips are applicable to everyone, mostly for people with myopia.
• The book doesn’t contain any groundbreaking information.


Best quotes from ‘Habits for Better Vision’

“Our eyes are not broken, and our genes are not problematic. We have the power to form new habits to improve our eyesight, starting right now and right away. We are so much more powerful to heal ourselves than we believe we are.”

“We cannot change our eyesight until we change something we do daily. Success is a long series of habits – small wins and tiny breakthroughs in each micro-moment.”

“I also encourage you to become an emotional archaeologist – to excavate buried feelings, partially forgotten hurts and unresolved issues that you did not want to look at. Only then can you shine your inner light upon them and set them free.”



Final takeaway

In ‘Habits for Better Vision,’ Aileen Yi Fan addresses the growing global issue of myopia (nearsightedness). Contrary to the prevailing belief that prescription lenses are the only solution, Aileen offers a groundbreaking approach to achieving optimal eyesight without relying solely on corrective aids. With a wealth of knowledge and research, Aileen presents 20 essential habits that can be incorporated into daily life to improve vision naturally.

Aimed at those seeking to enhance their eyesight and reduce reliance on prescription lenses or contacts, this insightful book offers a holistic and proactive approach to better vision.
Profile Image for Nicole Normand.
1,982 reviews30 followers
December 30, 2021
I found this book discounted on Amazon via BargainBooksy; this is my honest review
-~6 years ago, I started to sit outside, take my glasses off and look at the trees, the birds, the sky - kept roving - for ~20 minutes. I also started taking lutein and making other changes that Fan actually lists in her "Action Steps", such as going low carb.
-A couple of weeks ago I had my appt. with the ophthalmologist. I went from -14.25 to -12.00. I no longer need reading glasses. My reading glasses became my driving glasses and I'm waiting for my new, improved prescription for both reading and computing with a blue light inserted (among other options). All this to say: It works, give it a try.
-The introduction is worth reading. There's a lot of background information in there.
-Every chapter has its own "Action Steps". Pick and choose and whatever you do will be worth it.
-It was interesting to see the list of vitamins and minerals but under the eyes' health POV.
-Keep in mind that not everything applies to everyone: 1."probable causes of myopia are fear of the future and not trusting what’s ahead." I started wearing glasses when I was 5 y.o. Any 5 y.o. is trusting; they don't even think about the future. 2. "this means the more sleep, the lesser degree of myopia." I sleep 10-12 hours per night and I'm presently at -12.00. 3. "Take off the glasses when you are ..." LOL. I don't even recognize my husband. When I get better I'm going to try washing pots and pans or something similar.
-My only negative point would be the repeats. Many of the info is carried over to the next chapter or the one after that, like the food and vitamins.
-I had to laugh every time I read about "The studies ... included animal studies on monkeys and chicks". So, how do you go about checking their eyesight?
Profile Image for Avishay Kadouri.
105 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2020
Great book. Easy to read and easy to understand why people developing myopia. The author gives great tips and easy exercises for improving our vision. The book is divided for 20 habits that you can implement and improve your vision. The author based the book in huge tease arch and personal experience, I liked to read about all the experiments and their conclusions about our vision.
Profile Image for Meredith.
105 reviews4 followers
September 1, 2020
A Wonderful Resource

The author has packed a great deal of valuable information and resources into this excellent book. As a testimony, her own healing journey in recovering from myopia is progressing well. Following the suggestiona in this book will enhance the health not only of your eyesight but also your entire body. A wonderful resource!
44 reviews
February 18, 2021
Extremely informative

The information in thjs book kept me interested as well as entertained. The author put a bunch of bibliographies/cited sources. I could tell there was a lot of work put into this to improve my eyesight. This is scientific research.
105 reviews
December 10, 2021
Habits For Better Vision

This book is packed with a lot of good info. I especially liked the eye exercises and the Snellan Chart idea. Book is short and to the point, I will be sure to practice the 20/20/20 rule. Thank you Ailee.
Profile Image for Doug Hill.
78 reviews
July 20, 2020
Lots of white noise. Get to the middle of the book before any substance.
Profile Image for Denis Romanovsky.
215 reviews
November 1, 2020
Short and good book on avoiding myopia, slightly improving vision. Nothing special, some obvious things, some nice advices. Good points about glasses and lenses.
Profile Image for Jonathan Johnson.
28 reviews1 follower
December 29, 2020
This is a wonderful book with many great tools to heal vision naturally. Each one of the tools is very applicable.
Profile Image for André Selonke.
200 reviews5 followers
June 5, 2025
Myopia affected approximately 1.6 billion people worldwide in 2000, and that statistic is expected to increase to 2.5 billion by 2020, and to nearly 5 billion by 2050.

near work (such as reading, writing, time looking at a screen, etc.), education, age, economic status, and height are associated with myopia.

myopia is simply a refractive state, not a disease, that causes distant objects to appear blurry.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t— you’re right.” ~ Henry Ford

“Drugs are not always necessary. Belief in recovery always is.” ~ Norman Cousins ~

a belief is just the thought we repeatedly think.

modern technological medicine may occasionally cure disease but will never heal the patient.

Studies have shown atropine in extremely low concentration could significantly slow myopia progression in children.

Animal studies have demonstrated that the eye will adjust its growth in response to visual stimulus, with axial growth accelerated when the ocular image is focused behind the retina and slowed when focused in front of the retina. Following this logic, under-correction shifts the ocular image in front of the retina,

regular physical activity was associated with a lower estimated prevalence of myopia compared to sedentary lifestyles.

our physical health is not determined by how long we stand or how long we sit, but rather the number of times we alternate positions. She recommends going from a sitting to standing position at least 25 times per day.

The visual system is an energetically demanding system in the brain because the retina has one of the highest metabolic needs of the body—it consumes as much as 25 percent of the nutrition and 35 percent of the oxygen the brain takes.

none of the components of a Mediterranean diet—fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds—lowered the risk of age-related macular degeneration on their own. Rather, it was the entire pattern of eating a nutrient-rich diet that reduced the risk significantly.

Reading with eyes turned more downwards was slightly connected with greater myopic progression.

TED talk “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are.”

The rule says that for every 20 minutes spent in near work (looking at a screen, reading, or writing), a person should look at something in the distance (20 feet or more away) for 20 seconds.

Population-based data also support the hypothesis that myopia was related with the presence of depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults.

when we are happy, our body produces healthy doses of dopamine and nitric oxide. Research showed these neurotransmitters could slow eye elongation and prevent myopia.

wearing lenses creates hyperopic defocus, which can be stimuli for the axial growth of the eye and cause progressive myopia.

increased exposure to sunlight increases dopamine release in the retina, which reduces eye growth,

The optimal strategies for preventing myopia may include both darkness (scotopic light) and bright light (photopic light) exposure.

human eyes cannot see anything with perfect sight unless we have seen it before.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore is not an act, but a habit.” ~ Aristotle ~

took on average 66 days to form a habit, such as eating a salad at lunch or exercising 30 minutes a day. In the study, the actual number of days ranged from 18 to 254 days—indicating that it can take a very short or a very long time.

From presidents to celebrities, successful people credit their morning rituals as their key to success.

perfect sight means perfect relaxation of the mind; it also means perfect memory and perfect imagination.
163 reviews5 followers
September 29, 2019
This book makes so much sense! From start to finish, it is an authoritative and gripping book. It is backed up by scientific research, the author’s own investigations, and years of practical experience during which she honed her findings even further. However, this is more than that. It’s straightforward with clear, logical explanations, and even I was able to follow everything. There are some great full-colour diagrams that I found very helpful, and it’s full of practical activities and attitude checks to get started with immediately. Bonus: the author writes extremely well, so it’s a pleasure to read. This is not one of those thrown-together-self-help-books that gives you indigestion as you go through it. I can see this method will work if you are prepared to try it. It’s like, duh, why didn’t I think of investigating this topic? Well, now I don’t have to 😊
Profile Image for Julia.
270 reviews3 followers
January 6, 2020
4 Stars

A well though out plan to make a "better" you. Although the exercises and ideas could help adults, the better focus is for youth. The exercises and daily plans are supported by extensive footnotes.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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