NUTRITION FOR VISION

The team at Dr. Ambati's Eugene practice knows the benefits of good nutrition and the role it plays in eye care.

 

For the general population, to help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, it is wise to enhance one's diet by:

• increasing foods rich in nutrients like lutein, zeaxanthin, and antioxidants:  dark, green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, collard greens, Swiss chard), tomatoes, carrots,
• increasing foods rich in antioxidants: fruits (especially blueberries and blackberries), and spices like turmeric and fennel
• decreasing foods rich in pro-oxidants and "unhealthy" omega-6 fatty acids: red meat, fatty/processed foods

For patients with dry eyes and blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), it is helpful to enhance the diet by:

• adding foods high in omega-3 fatty acids (DHA, EPA), for example:  avocado, salmon, guacamole, walnuts, flaxseed, chia seed, almonds, organic eggs, extra virgin olive oil, DHA-supplemented milk, canola oil/rapeseed oil.
• adding foods high in GLA: evening primrose oil, borage oil, black currant seed oil, hemp oil

For patients with diabetes or pre-diabetes (which can affect any part of the eye, including causing retinal bleeding or swelling and increase risk of glaucoma), the following nutritional modifications will likely be helpful:

• adding foods with a higher protein:carbohydrate ratio and decreasing simple/refined sugars
• using whole grains (which include the bran and germ) rather than processed grains
• using grain with a higher protein & fiber content (e.g., brans & germs, soba noodles, hard red spring wheat, quinoa, oats, barley, rye, bulgur, cous-cous, brown rice) rather than grains low in protein and fiber (e.g., white rice, yellow or white corn, processed white flours)
• increasing intake of fruits like pomegranate and raspberries
• decreasing sugar in baking and using agave, cinnamon, or stevia instead
• decreasing simple sugar foods (e.g., potatoes, processed snacks)
• adding vegetables like fenugreek and nopal (prickly pear)

For patients with hypertension (which can increase the risk of macular degenerationy, diabetic retinopathy & glaucoma), the following adjustments to diet would likely be useful: 

• increasing foods higher in potassium (e.g., apricots, coconut water, spinach, acorn or spaghetti squash, grapefruits or prunes & their juices, sweet potatoes or yams, white beans, bananas beet greens, tomatos)
• increasing foods rich in calcium: yogurt, milk, cheese, spinach, kale, turnip greens, fortified orange juice
• adding Vitamin D supplementation (2000 to 5000 u/day)
• increasing foods rich in magnesium: cashews, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, spinach, kale, lentils (white beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans), figs, dark chocolate
• reducing sodium (frozen foods, packaged snacks, canned or pickled foods, instant foods, cured meats or fish)

Food supplements ("nutraceuticals") that might help you in these goals include flaxseed oil, fish oil, Ocuvite, PreserVision, EyeCaps, TheraTears supplements, Ojo Liquid Eye Nectar, or Lumega-Z.

Diabetes and hypertension can cause eye problems by themselves or contributing to things like cataract, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. So if you have those conditions, reducing sugar and salt while increasing foods with a low glycemic index and high in potassium can be very helpful.

 

To learn more about the benefits of nutrition and how healthy living can benefit your eye care contact Dr. Ambati's Eugene office.