Don’t take your eyes for granted! Consuming a varied diet containing the following nutrients will ensure you keep your eyes healthy:
Lutein and Zeaxanthin are anti-oxidants that shield eyes from light damage and fend off cataracts & other age-related macular degeneration:
- found in green leafy vegetables like kale & spinach as well as orange and yellow fruits or vegetables
Omega 3 helps relieve dry eyes by reducing inflammation:
- found in fish oils, salmon, walnuts, walnut oil, ground flaxseed, flax oil
Vitamin A is found in eggs and colourful veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and mangos
Vitamin C is in citrus fruits, berries, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, kale and broccoli
Vitamin E protects eye cells from tissue-damaging free radicals: found in almonds, nuts, leafy greens, sweet potatoes and fortified cereals
Zinc is in cheese, yogurt, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, oysters & lean meat
Glaucoma:
A progressive eye damage where optic nerve cells are damaged by excess fluid pressure in the eyeball.
- 2nd leading cause of blindness after diabetes
- has hardly any symptoms so get your eyes checked regularly: those over 50 should get checked every year or two
- options include drugs or surgery
Risk Factors:
Those over 40 with these risk factors should get checked every year
- diabetes
- eye injury or infection
- high usage of steroids or corticosteroids
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- low thyroid function