We all want optimum eye health, right? As the eyes get older, the risk of developing conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts increases, and can eventually lead to blindness. However, there's plenty you can do to keep your eyes healthy and help prevent these problems, and most of it starts with the what you eat.
What nutrients do the eyes need?
There are a few nutrients in our food that are vital in helping maintain the very best of your eyes' health. They are:
- Omega 3 fatty acids - excellent in keeping eyes moist and helping prevent dry eyes
- Lutein - can help prevent the onset of macular degeneration
- Zinc - brings vitamins A from the liver to retina to produce melanin, a protective pigment in the eye
- Vitamins C & E - antioxidants may protect against damaging free radicals
What foods can I find these nutrients in?
There are lots of delicious foods out there that benefit your eyes and may boost the effects on eye health long-term.
- Green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and collards
- Salmon, tuna and other oily fish
- Eggs, nuts, beans and other non-meat protein sources
- Oranges and other citrus fruits and juices
- Oysters and pork
- Carrots
- Beef
What about chocolate?
It may sound too good to be true, but a recent study found that chocolate helped sharpen vision, especially the consumption of dark chocolate. Sadly, given that it was one study with a small group, these findings aren't conclusive at the moment (fingers cross for future studies).
We recommend getting your eyes tested every two years to maintain optimum eye health. At Optical Express, our expert optometrists carry out a fully comprehensive eye test with state of the art equipment in our clinics.
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