Save your vision
Q: What is the correlation between good vision and eye health?
A: Based on research from multiple studies, there is a strong correlation between good nutrition and the prevention of eye diseases such as age- related macular degeneration and cataracts. By eating foods rich in six key nutrients you can help protect your eyesight and vision. Their nutrients are antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, essential fatty acids, vitamins C and E and zinc. Spinach and other dark, leafy greens contain large amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin.
Q: I'd like to know more about aging eye diseases that are related to good nutrition.
A: Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in America. It results from changes to the macula, a portion of the retina responsible for clear, sharp vision located at the back of the eye. Some symptoms include a gradual loss in the ability to see objects clearly, distorted vision, loss of color vision, and a dark or empty area appearing in the center of vision.
Cataracts, cloudy or opaque areas in the normally clear lens of the eye, are another age- related condition that can develop if you don't care for your eyes. Most cataracts develop in people over age 55, but they occasionally occur in infants and young children. Symptoms can include dim, blurry, cloudy, and foggy vision. Other age- related vision problems are glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy. The best form of defense is to see an eye doctor for regular, comprehensive eye exams.
Q: How common are these aging eye diseases?
A: Research shows that an estimated 25 percent of Americans age 40 and older suffer from some level of vision loss. And, according to the American Optometric Association, 43 million individuals suffer from age- related macular degeneration and cataracts, the two leading causes of vision loss and blindness.
Q: Can vision be improved or even restored with good nutrition?
A: Eye- healthy foods cannot reverse the damage of eye diseases; however, they may help prevent or slow the progression of symptoms associated with them.
Q: Can poor nutrition damage eyes and cause vision problems?
A: Definitely. While a deficiency of even one nutrient can cause vision problems, the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other vision problems is most significant when several nutrients are low or nonexistent in the diet.
Q: In addition to eating healthy, what else can people do to help protect their eyes and vision?
A: Having one's vision examined on a regular, timely basis is important to maintaining overall health and can lead to early detection of various diseases.
In addition to eating healthy and getting eye exams on a regularly scheduled basis, drinking lots of water and regular exercise can also benefit eye health.
