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Nutrition
and Eye Health
What
is the correlation between good vision and eye health?
Based
on research from multiple studies, there is a strong correlation
between good nutrition and the prevention of eye diseases such as
age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. By eating foods
rich in six key nutrients - antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin,
essential fatty acids, vitamins C and E and zinc - you can help
protect your eye sight and vision.
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So
when our parents told us to eat carrots to get good eyesight, where
they lying?
Not
exactly. While carrots do contain nutritional value, spinach and
other dark, leafy greens prove to be the healthiest foods for eyes
because they naturally contain large amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin.
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What
are aging eye diseases that are related to good nutrition and what
symptoms will people notice?
Macular
degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in America. It results
from changes to the macula, a portion of the retina that is responsible
for clear, sharp vision, and is located at the back of the eye.
Some
common symptoms include a gradual loss in the ability to see objects
clearly, distorted vision, loss of color vision and a dark or empty
area appearing in the center of vision.
Cataracts
are another age-related condition that can develop if you don't
care for your eyes. A cataract is a cloudy or opaque area in the
normally clear lens of the eye. Symptoms can include dim, blurry,
cloudy, and foggy vision. Most cataracts develop in people over
age 55, but they occasionally occur in infants and young children.
In
addition to cataracts and AMD, Americans should also be aware that
they are at greater risk for other age-related vision problems like
glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy. The best form of defense is to
see an eye doctor for regular, comprehensive eye exams.
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How
common are these aging eye diseases?
Research
shows that an estimated 25 percent of Americans age 40 and older
suffer from some level of vision loss. And, according to the AOA,
43 million individuals suffer from age-related macular degeneration
and cataracts, the two leading causes of vision loss and blindness.
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Can
vision be improved or even restored with good nutrition?
Eye-healthy
foods cannot reverse the damage of eye diseases; however, they may
help prevent or slow the progression of symptoms associated with
them.
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Can
poor nutrition damage eyes and cause vision problems?
Definitely.
While a deficiency of even one nutrient can cause vision problems,
the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and other vision problems
is most significant when several nutrients are low or nonexistent
in the diet.
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In
addition to eating healthy, what else can people do to help protect
their eyes and vision?
Comprehensive
eye exams are also extremely important and can allow an optometrist
to gain insight into a person's overall health. An adult's eyesight
can change rapidly and frequently, particularly as one ages. Having
one's vision examined on a regular, timely basis is important to
maintaining overall health and can lead to early detection of various
diseases.
In
addition to eating healthy and getting eye exams on a regularly
scheduled basis, drinking lots of water and regular exercise can
also benefit eye health.
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How
often should people get their vision checked?
Adults
age 60 and under should have a comprehensive eye exam every two
years, or as recommended by an eye doctor. Adults age 61 and older
should have eye exams annually.
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Where
can I find an optometrist in my area?
The
easiest way to find an optometrist near you is by accessing the
MOA doctor locator by clicking
here.
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Related
Links
Find
a Doctor Near You
http://www.marylandeyes.com/findadoc.htm
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