Vision / Eyes

 

Index of Diseases / Health Conditions

The below provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. Any treatment protocol should be discussed with a qualified healthcare practitioner ... Please refer to: Medical & Legal Disclaimer.

 

Cataracts

 

Ways to Protect Your Eye Sight:

Treat Hypertension:

In patients with longstanding, untreated hypertension, the result can be impaired vision and even blindness, as this condition can lead to swelling of the optic nerve, which carries images to the brain.

Wear Shades & Safety Googles:

Ultraviolet rays can literally burn your eyes, much the same way they can burn your skin. The symptoms: red, itchy, or gritty-feeling eyes. This kind of discomfort is usually short-lived, but researchers have found that long-term exposure to UV rays can have a permanent effect, including cataracts and irreversible damage to the retina. So be sure to wear sunglasses whenever you spend time outside — even if it's cloudy.

• Which shades are best? The American Optometric Association recommends sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB radiation, screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light, are free of imperfections and distortion, and have gray lenses for proper color recognition.

Certain sports and household chores pose a threat to your eyes. In fact, more than one million people suffer eye injuries in the United States each year, 90 percent of which could be avoided with the proper protective eyewear. So whether you're working with chemicals like bleach, using a machine that can send objects flying (like a lawn mower), or playing racquetball, be sure to use appropriate eyewear.

• The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that safety glasses or goggles have the code "ANSI Z87.1" written on the lens or frame. This indicates that they've met the safety standards of the American National Standards Institute.

 

Research indicates that the following foods help with the following diseases / conditions:

 

Overall Eye Health:

• Consume Carotenoids and Your Antioxidants

  The old recommendation that carrots are good for your eyes has some truth. That's because carrots contain the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which are naturally found in the eyes and which can help ward off cataracts and macular degeneration. That said, you're much better off taking a cue from Popeye rather than Bugs Bunny. Carotenoids can be found much more plentifully in leafy green foods, such as kale, collard greens, spinach, turnip greens, and broccoli.

  Recent studies have found that foods rich in antioxidants can also reduce your risk of developing age-related eye disease and cataracts. So boost your intake of antioxidants by eating a combination of vitamins C and E. Papaya, cantaloupe, strawberries, green peppers, oranges, and grapefruit are excellent sources of vitamin C, while vitamin E is found in foods like almonds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and safflower and corn oils.



• A 2007 study in the Archives of Ophthalmology found that people 60 and older reduced their risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 35 percent by eating at least two daily servings of yellow and green vegetables. These veggies provide antioxidants, like lutein below) and zeaxanthin, which absorb harmful UV rays that hit the eye.
  • Lutein: Researchers studied more than 4,500 people aged 60 to 80 who had enrolled in the Age-related Eye Disease Study. After six years, those who consumed the most lutein and zeaxanthin from their food had a 35 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed the least. (Ref. Arch. Ophthalmol, 125: 1225, 2007)
    • To increase lutein in your diet, eat more spinach, kale, turnip greens, collard greens, romaine lettuce, broccoli,, zucchini, corn, peas and Brussels sprouts. Eggs are also a good source of lutein.
  • Sweet Potatoes aka Yams: High source of the antioxidant beta carotene, which is linked to preventing heart disease, cataracts, and numerous cancers, and is considered a nutritional boost for eye health.

 

Cataracts

 

Vision Nutrition:

Yellow & Orange Fruits & Veggies, such as Carrots / Corn / Squash: Provide beta-carotene which converts to vitamin A in your body - a nutrient vital for the functioning of the retina.

Spinach & Other Leafy Greens:: Spinach and leafy greens contain lutein - a particularly potent antioxidant that can be beneficial against certain diseases of the eye like macular degeneration — the leading cause of vision loss.

Kiwis: Kiwis are rich in vision-boosting antioxidants.

Whole grains: Refined carbohydrates like white rice, white bread, and pasta, may actually increase the risk of macular degeneration. Instead, choose brown rice and bread and pasta made from whole grains for your complex carbohydrates.

Ginkgo: Enhanced circulation in the minute capillaries of the eye has been credited with protecting against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. Improved circulation in the ears may also protect against tinnitus and hearing loss. (Click here on more info on the benefits of Ginkgo)

Grape Seeds / Grape Seed Extract: One of the most potent antioxidants known, with tests indicating that it is fifty times more powerful than Vitamin E. In humans, it has been used to treat varicose veins, eye problems, arthritis, allergies, heart conditions, Attention Deficit Disorder, cancer, and viral diseases such as herpes.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids play a key role in the health of the retina and reduce inflammation. A Harvard study on eye disease, for example, determined that people who eat at least two servings of fish a week have a 50 percent lower risk of AMD than those who eat none.

Best choices are oily varieties found in cold-water fish, such as salmon, sardines, anchovies, halibut and mackerel

• Click here to find the best and the worst fish to eat.
• Supplements, such a good quality Cod Liver Oil, are also an option. There are some lemon-flavored version that are not unpleasant to eat (click on the link for more info).

Also found in flax seed, canola and hemp seed and oils. (*Hemp seeds are often referred to as "super-seeds" as they offer a complete amino acid profile, have an ideal balance of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, and provide an impressive amount of trace minerals - they also have the highest concentration of protein in the plant kingdom.)

"Feed Your Eyes" Nutrition:

Apricots ... Bananas ... Bartlett Pears ... Blueberries have an oxygen radical absorption capacity value of 2,400 per 100 grams of antioxidant power and they are rich in anthocyanins, ellagic acid and phenolic acids. They help fight bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections, and blueberry extract may combat pain. Fresh and frozen (without added sugar) are comparable from a nutritional standpoint, but dried blueberries contain lower amounts of antioxidant anthocyanins ... Cantaloupe ... Eggs ... Kale ... Pineapple ... Plums ... Prunes ... Raisins ... Rasberries ... Strawberries (organic only) ... Swiss Chard ... Watermelon

 

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Information contained on this website is provided as general reference only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought.

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