It is possible to aid eye health through nutrition and supplements, experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
It is possible to aid eye health through nutrition and supplements, experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
Research by the National Eye Institute (NEI) has shown that high levels of antioxidants and zinc, in the form of a nutritional supplement tablet, reduced the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
“AMD is the leading cause of blindness in older adults,” said Cynthia Owsley, Ph.D., professor and vice chair for clinical research in the Department of Ophthalmology.
“These dietary supplements are not a cure for AMD, but they do reduce one’s risk of progressing to the most serious form of the disease,” she stated.
UAB School of Optometry Professor Leo Semes, OD, talked about the importance of diet to eye health.
“You are what you eat; it’s trite but it’s true. It’s been shown that certain habits like eating a high-fat diet are associated with, but not causative, in AMD,” Semes said.
One food that has long been connected with improving vision is carrots, but Semes said carrots alone would not accomplish significant gains in eye health.
“The basis for this belief is that carrots are high in beta-carotene. But beta-carotene alone is not going to be protective enough. There’s also a tangential relationship that a lack of vitamin-A, a cousin of beta-carotene, is implicated in poor darkness adaptation,” Semes said.
Seeing well when moving from light to dark declines with age.
Semes serves on the American Optometric Association Health and Nutrition Committee, which developed a list of specific foods and nutrients that have been found to be beneficial to eye health.
• Fruits and vegetables – Vitamin C can help minimize cataracts and AM
• Fleshy fish (tuna or salmon) and lean meats – Fatty acids protect against AM
• Red meats and whole grains – Zinc deficiency can lead to cataract
• Vegetable oil – Vitamin E can slow progression of AM
Semes suggested a consultation with an optometrist for evaluation of any ophthalmic problems so possible solutions can be reviewed.
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