Hello!
It is certainly summer in the Twin Ports with record breaking high temperatures and severe thunderstorms rolling through the area. As I enjoy the weather, I can’t wait for the days with ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchinis! It’s amazing how a cucumber plucked from your garden tastes so much better than one chosen from the grocery store. Just as we start to see more fresh produce become available, it is helpful to know which fruits and vegetables are beneficial for our eyes.
As eye doctors, we always encourage a diet of dark leafy greens and brightly colored fruits and vegetables to intake the appropriate antioxidants and vitamins for our eyes. Specifically, people with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) can benefit from a specific combination of these nutrients. Vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein and zeaxanthin are a few of the key nutrients shown to be beneficial for your eyes. If you are diagnosed with ARMD, your doctor may recommend taking a vitamin that contains the appropriate nutrients shown to slow progression of the disease. If you are not diagnosed with ARMD, you can modify your diet to include some of these nutrients also. For example, vitamin C is found in oranges, grapefruits, green peppers, and broccoli. Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in kale, spinach, and green peas. Vitamin E can be found in almonds, peanuts, and even peanut butter!
Another eye condition that can be slowed by nutrition is cataracts. The same nutrients helpful for ARMD can be beneficial in slowing the rate of progression of cataracts. Nutrition alone will not stop cataracts. There are other factors including cessation of smoking and limiting UV exposure to our eyes which can slow the progression of cataracts. It is truly amazing how the substances we put into our body can have effects everywhere, even our eyes!
As you see those fresh produce stands show up around the Twin Ports or your own garden begins to produce fruit, keep this list in mind for the eye-healthy choices! The following link is an excellent resource from the American Optometric Association with serving sizes and suggestions for your eye health diet.
https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/nutrition/nutrition-and-cataracts
~Dr. Whitney