Foods For Healthy Eyes – Really?

We were all told the same thing when we were younger “Eat your carrots, they’ll help you see in the dark.” Sure, we all rolled our eyes and sure we ate them anyway to see if the theory was actually true, but our parents may not have been far off the mark. There is plenty of research to suggest that eating certain foods can have multiple benefits for your eye health, as well as help to slow down or even reverse the effects of ageing.

Leafy Greens

It is widely known that green vegetables are good for you. However leafy greens such a broccoli, spinach and cabbage have high levels of lutein, a key property for helping to protect the eyes by creating pigments in the macula which can help to protect from age related macular degeneration (ARMD) which is one of the most common causes of blindness in the UK, particularly for the over 60s. These foods are cheap and easy to prepare and can be added to other dishes and so are an easy way to get this key nutrient into your body.

Orange Foods

Carrots, sweet potato, butternut squash and pumpkins contain high doses of carotene, converted by the liver into Vitamin A, which can help protect your eyes from harmful sunlight and allow your eyes to absorb more energy. This can also help you to see better in the dark, so technically your parents were right!

Eggs

Versatile and cheap to buy, eggs contain components that form glutathione, an antioxidant which can help reduce the impact of glaucoma through maintaining the flow of fluid in the eye and can also help to protect against cataracts.

Blueberries

Blueberries contain anthocyanosides, which have been proven to improve night vision as well as helping to fight against ARMD.

Oily Fish

Salmon, cod, tuna, haddock and sardines are high in Omega-3 oils, including essential DHA (a polyunsaturated fat) that forms around 30% of healthy retina tissue. Studies have shown that children who consume a regular dose of Omega-3 have better eyesight than those who don’t.

Omega-3s also have a number of other health benefits which should make them a staple part of your diet. Eating to improve your eye health is easy, you can even combine some of the foods above to create a satisfying meal that will not only taste great, but give you extra health benefits too.

We recommend a broccoli and salmon omelette with a side of spinach and some carrots to give you some essential vitamins and nutrients to improve your eye health and protect yourself from future eye problems. If you are concerned about your eyesight at all or want more information on how you can boost your eye health and prevent future problems, contact one of the team at Oldfields Opticians who will be happy to arrange an appointment.

When you were a child, did your family tell you to eat carrots because they helped you see better in the dark?

Is this a myth? Well, yes and no

Carrots contain vitamin A, or retinol, and this is required for your body to absorb rhodopsin, which is the pigment in your eyes that operates in low-light conditions. If you have a vitamin A deficiency, your night vision can be impaired. Making it an excellent source of Vitamin A which can also be found in other foods such as sweet potatoes, eggs, butter, and broccoli.

More vitamin A does not naturally improve the function of your eyes. While a certain minimum amount is necessary. Ingesting large doses will not give you superhuman vision or allow you to get rid of your glasses. Nor is it’s deficiency the reason people need to wear glasses in the first place.

So how did this myth about carrots being so good for you become so widely known? Actually, the history behind this goes back to World War II when German bombers raided Great Britain. The devastation left its wake was so enormous, that the British government in 1935 decided to spend a great deal of money on a radar system that could detect aircraft before they reached the UK.

The radar stations were set up around the south coast of England in 1940 and was successful but obviously the British military didn’t want the Germans to know they had this technology. Instead, they came up with another explanation for why so many German bombers were being shot down.

The Government had newspaper publish lots of stories about a new dietary program being administered to their pilots. They were told to consume more carrots and other root vegetables to increase their vision and we as improve night vision. After this, British public starting eating a lot more themselves to improve their night vision during the blackouts!

Reading in the Dark Will Ruin Your Eyes?

For years, mothers have told their children not to read in the dark because it will ruin their eyes. Were they right when they told us this?

The ability to see well is called resolution, this is the ability of an optical system, such as our eyes ability to detect detail. Our eyes unlike many animals are not well equipped to see high resolutions in the dark. The more light the better the ability of our eye to resolve fine detail. So our lack of ability to see in the dark is a well-known fact.

Low light conditions makes it more difficult to read as our ability to decipher fine detail diminishes. Difficulty reading will cause eye fatigue or eyestrain but this is only a temporary discomfort. Despite reading in the dark is more difficult, this in no way causes any damage to the eye.

Generally to reduce eye strain, there should be a good level of lighting and more beneficial would be anti-reflection coating on your glasses which can help filter out any glare and reflection from strong beams of light.

 If I start wearing glasses, will my eyes get worse?

A popular question asked when we prescribe glasses for the firsts time is whether your eyes will become dependent on the the glasses and over time deteriorate. This is simply not true, although many patients find that after they begin wearing glasses they begin to rely on them. The two different causes to this:

• Since you know how good you can see with glasses, the world looks worse without them.
• Patient’s refractive error gets worse with age making it seem as though it only began to worsen once the patient began wearing glasses.

The truth is glasses have no effect on your prescription getting stronger over time. If your eye muscles change and your vision gets worse. Unfortunately it will do so whether you are wearing glasses or not. In actuality by not wearing your prescribed glasses you may experience eye strain and possibility of headaches.

If you’re anything like I was a few months ago, you probably think that Glaucoma is an avocado-based dip from Mexico. Unfortunately, Glaucoma isn’t as tasty as that, but it is something everyone should be aware of. Affecting over 600,000 people, it is one of the main causes of vision loss in the UK.

If left untreated, Glaucoma can cause permanent loss of vision. But don’t panic! If you read this short blog we will teach you everything there is to know about Glaucoma and how you can safeguard yourself and your family against it, giving you the peace of mind to go back to enjoying the best parts of life – like avocado-based dips from Mexico.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects your eye to your brain, becomes damaged. If it is not detected or treated early enough, it can lead to permanent loss of vision.

Glaucoma is a common condition, but many people won’t realise they have it because symptoms are rare in the early stages. That’s what makes regular eye examinations so important.

Glaucoma can affect anyone of any age, however, Glaucoma is most common in those aged 70+.

What are the symptoms?

Glaucoma rarely causes any symptoms at first. Many people are unaware they have Glaucoma because it develops slowly over several years and tends to cause a loss of peripheral vision first.

Both eyes are generally affected, although it is also possible for it to be worse in one eye. Without treatment Glaucoma will eventually cause blindness. However, with this is easily preventable if you attend your routine eye examinations.

During your routine eye examination, your Optician can pick up signs of Glaucoma, however, with an advanced eye examination Glaucoma symptoms can be spotted much earlier, giving you the best chance of preventing any damage. An advanced eye examination can include an Optomap or an OCT screening. During these screenings Glaucoma can be quickly detected, allowing you to seek early treatment and protect your sight.

The advanced eye examination is fast and painless and offers an in-depth view of your eye health, which can help you detect health issues such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy which in their early stages are not apparent in a routine eye examination.

Causes of Glaucoma

 Glaucoma is usually caused by a blockage in the part of the eye that allows fluid to drain from it. This can lead to a build-up of fluid, and therefore pressure, in the eye and damage the optic nerve.

It’s still unclear what causes Glaucoma, however there are some factors that can increase your risk of developing it, including:

Age: Glaucoma becomes more likely as you get older and the most common type affects around 10% of people aged over 75.

Ethnicity: Those who are of African, Caribbean or Asian origin are more likely to develop Glaucoma.

Family history: It may not just be your nose that you inherited from your mum. You’re more likely to develop Glaucoma if you have a parent or sibling with the condition.

Doctors are yet to discover anything you can do to prevent Glaucoma, which makes regular and advanced eye examinations even more important. If you are worried about Glaucoma then contact your local practice today.

What are dry eyes?

Dry eyes occur when your tear glands don’t produce enough tears to lubricate your eyes. This condition can be uncomfortable and painful. It can be caused by both medical and environmental factors.

What is dry eye syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome is a general term used to describe dry eyes caused by either poor quality tears or diminished tear production. The symptoms include:

• scratchy, dry, and painful sensation in both of your eyes
• feeling like something is in your eyes
• redness
• mucus in or around your eyes
• light sensitivity
• fatigued eyes
• blurred vision

There are a number of factors that can cause dry eyes. These include:

• aging
• certain medications
• certain medical conditions
• environmental factors
• contacts
• allergies

Change your environment

Environmental factors are a common cause of dry eyes. Avoid cigarette smoke, and stay indoors when it’s windy.

Use appropriate eyewear to protect your eyes from wind when engaging in activities such as riding a bike or motorcycle, skiing, or riding in a convertible.

It may also be helpful to get a humidifier for your home to add moisture to the air.

Supplement your diet with fatty acids

Research indicates that eating more omega-3 fatty acids may relieve the symptoms of dry eyes. This fat is known to reduce inflammation in the body. It may help relieve dry eyes by reducing eye inflammation, allowing for more tear production and higher quality tears.

You can use omega-3 supplements, or eat more foods rich in this nutrient, such as:

• ground flaxseed and flaxseed oil
• palm oil
• soybean oil
• chia seeds
• fatty fish, including salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel
• walnuts
• eggs that have been supplemented with omega-3 fats

Try drops or ointments

There are a number of nonprescription products for dry eyes that may bring you relief. Eye drops, or artificial tears, can bring you temporary relief. Keep in mind that some eye drops contain preservatives.

These usually come in multidose vials and contain preservatives to prevent bacterial growth once a vial is opened. If your eyes react badly to drops with preservatives, or if you apply eye drops more than four times a day, you should use preservative-free drops. Preservative-free drops usually come in single dose vials.

Ointments are thicker than drops and are designed to coat the eyeball and provide longer-term relief from dryness.

However, ointments can impair your vision while you’re using them. It’s best to use them before bedtime and stick to drops during the day.

When to see your doctor for dry eyes

If these remedies don’t bring you relief, or if you think you have a more serious condition causing your dry eyes, it’s time to see your doctor. Here are some symptoms that should prompt you to call your doctor for an appointment:

• redness and swelling
• pain beyond mild irritation
• an eye injury
• flaking or discharge from the eye
• joint pain, swelling, and stiffness
• dry mouth
• continued dryness after a few days of self-care

Dry eyes are usually temporary, and are a natural part of aging for most people. But in some cases, the condition is caused by something more serious. Try home care for relief and see your doctor if needed.

How to prevent dry eyes

Besides using eye drops or ointment, there are several simple ways to help prevent dry eyes. These include:

Avoid places with a lot of air movement

This means limiting your exposure to fans and hair dryers, and by wearing wraparound sunglasses when outside on windy days to protect your eyes from drying out.

Turn on a humidifier in the wintertime

Home heating systems can cause the air in your home to dry out, and dry out your eyes. But using a humidifier can help the air stay moist. If you don’t have a humidifier, you can put a pan of water on your radiator to add water into the air.

Rest your eyes

Frequent reading, TV watching, and computer use can dry out your eyes, so it’s important to take breaks so your eyes can regain some of their moisture.

Stay away from cigarette smoke

Cigarette smoke can irritate dry eyes and increase one’s risk of developing dry eyes in the first place.

Use warm compresses then wash your eyelids

Placing a warm compress on your eyes then washing your eyelids with baby shampoo helps to release some of the oil in your eyelids’ glands, this improves the quality of your tears. Be sure you completely rinse soap from your eyes when finished to avoid irritating them.

Try an omega-3 fatty acid supplement

Some people report dry eye relief after adding omega-3 fatty acids to their diet. These can be found naturally in foods like oily fish and flax seeds, but can also be purchased in liquid or pill supplement form.