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6 Foods That Support Your Eye Health

March 23, 2023

Healthy Food, Healthy Eyes

It should be of no surprise to anyone when we say that your diet is extremely important to your overall health and wellbeing—including the health of your eyes. Though managing a healthy diet can seem difficult at times, the good news is that there are various types of food that can help support eye health. 


Let’s take a look at six foods that are not only great for your vision, but also delicious and nutritious!

spinach

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens are rich in antioxidants, particularly lutein and zeaxanthin. These specific antioxidants can help protect the eyes from harmful blue light and UV rays. Moreover, they may also lower the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts, which are common eye diseases in older adults.


Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in the macula, which is a small but essential part of the retina. These pigments act as a natural sunblock, protecting the macula from harmful light. Additionally, these antioxidants can neutralize free radicals that may damage cells in the eyes.

a school of fish

Fatty Fish

Fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines, are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats can help prevent dry eyes, which can cause discomfort, irritation, and blurred vision. Omega-3s can also reduce the risk of developing AMD.



The retina contains a high concentration of omega-3s, particularly DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). This fatty acid is crucial for the retina's normal function, as it helps maintain the integrity of the cell membranes. Additionally, omega-3s may also help reduce inflammation in the eyes, which can contribute to various eye diseases.

almond tree

Eggs

Eggs are a good source of nutrients that can support eye health, including lutein and zeaxanthin, vitamins A and E, and zinc. Lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs can help protect the eyes from harmful blue light and UV rays. Vitamin A is crucial for maintaining good vision, particularly in low light conditions. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can help protect the eyes from free radical damage, while zinc is essential for the health of the retina.



Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds such as almonds, walnuts, and chia seeds are excellent sources of vitamin E, which can help protect the eyes from free radical damage. Additionally, these foods also contain omega-3s, which, as previously discussed, can help prevent dry eyes and reduce the risk of AMD.


What’s more is that nuts and seeds also contain the zinc that we know to be so important to eye health. Zinc helps transport vitamin A from the liver to the retina, where it is converted into a pigment called rhodopsin, which is crucial for night vision.

lemon tree

Citrus Fruits

When it comes to vitamin C, there is of course nothing better than citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons. Though widely known for supporting the immune system, vitamin C is an antioxidant that can also help protect the eyes from free radical damage. Plus, Vitamin C can help maintain the health of blood vessels in the eyes, which is crucial for maintaining good vision.



Vitamin C may even help lower the risk of developing cataracts. Cataracts are caused by the clouding of the lens in the eye, which can cause blurry vision and glare.

salad

Carrots

There’s a bit of magical language that oversells the effects of carrots on one’s vision. We’re sad to say that they will not, in fact, allow you to see in the dark. But that’s not to say that they aren’t great for your eyes!



Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is a type of vitamin A. Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect the eyes from free radical damage. It can also help prevent the development of cataracts. The lens in the eye contains high levels of vitamin A, and beta-carotene can help maintain the lens's health.


If you’re looking for ways to protect your vision, start with your dinner plate. A diet rich in these foods will supply your body with the nutrients needed to keep your vision healthy for a lifetime. For the problems that diet can’t fix, Chicago Vision Club has your back. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment for an eye exam and let us set you up with a new pair of glasses or contacts..

salad
kale
cooked salmon
eggs
grapefruit cut in half
carrots

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Show More

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The Spring Doesn't Just Bring Beautiful Weather Is there anything worse than allergy season? You’ve just survived another winter and the doldrums that accompany it, and just as soon as the weather gets nice enough to enjoy, mother nature deploys clouds of pollen and your immune system goes haywire. Allergy season is miserable, especially for those who suffer from eye allergies. Eye allergies, also known as allergic conjunctivitis, can cause symptoms such as itching, redness, and tearing, which can be frustrating and uncomfortable. We’ve got your back. While springtime might have your eyes redder than a clown’s nose, there are fortunately several steps that you can take to mitigate pollen’s assault. Let’s take a look at seven tips from the pros for taking care of your eyes during allergy season.

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You Don't Have to Put Up With the Fog Ask any glasses wearer about the inconvenience of fogged-up lenses in the winter, and they'll rattle off a laundry list of complaints, ranging from the minor inconveniences of walking into a warm cafe on a cold day to the more dangerous hazards of fogged-out glasses while driving. Glasses can easily fog up in the winter due to the temperature difference between the warm air inside and the cold air outside. This can be particularly annoying for people who rely on glasses for their daily activities. It’s a headache, to be sure; however, there are several ways to prevent or reduce fogging during the long winter months. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can overcome this seasonal grievance and live a fog-free life.

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Pay Attention to What Your Eyes are Telling You Disease of the eyes can affect anyone, young or old. As vision is one of your most valuable assets, it’s essential to stay well informed. Eye disease can often have no visible signs, so it’s important to identify the symptoms and seek medical advice from an optometrist if you experience any of them. Here are ten common symptoms that may indicate a potential eye condition: 1. Blurred vision Blurred vision or a sudden change in vision can be a sign of an underlying eye problem. While many people’s vision may worsen naturally, it’s important to see an eye doctor to be certain it isn’t a symptom of eye disease. 2. Flashes or floaters These are small spots, specks, lines, or cloud shapes that appear in your vision. Flashes or floaters may be caused by retinal detachment, vitreous detachment, inflammation inside your eyes, or other problems with the vitreous humor, the gel-like substance found inside your eyes.

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Don't Neglect Your Vision We live in a busy world, so it’s only natural that some things will fall by the wayside. One thing that is neglected too often is getting a regularly scheduled eye exam. Hey, we get it. These things can be easy to put off until they’ve left your mind completely, especially if you believe you have perfect vision. However, eye disease and vision impairment are serious conditions that are best treated if they are caught as early as possible. So that being said, how do you know if you should see an eye doctor? In order to help you answer that question, we’ve compiled a list of signs that you should have your eyes examined as soon as possible.

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By Bob Hansen • January 12, 2023
It Might Be Time to Move On So you’ve got these glasses that you’ve had forever. You don’t love them, but you don’t hate them either. You can see alright, but maybe it seems like that myopia might be slowly creeping back into your field of vision. They’re in pretty good shape, but there’s one or two blotches on them that just don’t seem to buff despite your best efforts. In short, you’re in a strange limbo where you feel like it might be time for a new pair, but you’re just not sure. Luckily we’re here to make it a little easier for you. Here are our top five signs that you need new glasses.

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Your Glasses Shouldn't Effect Your Workout We’ve all been there before: You’re trying to get a sweat in, but you forgot your contact lenses and now your glasses are flopping all around on your nose like a flag in a hurricane. You can’t enjoy your workout because your only options are to risk breaking an expensive prescription or jog blindly down the road and risk breaking way more. It’s a miserable experience that usually ends in cutting your workout short and heading home dejected. It doesn’t have to be that way though! Whether you’re a hobby cyclist, a marathon runner, a consummate gym rat, or play basketball with your friends on the weekend, glasses don’t have to interfere with your workout routine. Here are a few tips that will make sure you never have to skip a workout because of precariously placed eyeglasses again.

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By Bob Hansen • December 15, 2022
Improve Your Health Regular eye exams should be a part of everyone’s healthcare routine, and not just to protect your vision. While it’s true that checkups from your optometrist can catch the early signs of eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, eye exams are remarkably effective at detecting so much more. Many of these diseases can be life-threatening, so early detection and treatment is vital. Let’s take a look at five diseases and health conditions that may be detected during your routine eye exam.

5 Factors to Consider When Picking New Frames

By Bob Hansen • December 1, 2022
Finding New Frames Doesn't Need to be a Hassle We’ve all been there before. You’ve got a new prescription or maybe you’re replacing your old pair of glasses and suddenly you are confronted with a wall of frames and you suddenly have to decide what your face is going to look like with your glasses for the next couple of years. It’s daunting and exhausting and the last thing you want is to make the wrong decision. Don’t you worry, we’re here with you to help you choose a pair of frames that you’re going to love. We’ve compiled a list of five factors that you should consider when picking your new frames that will make the task feel less herculean.

What Should I Do if My Child is Nervous About an Eye Exam

By Bob Hansen • November 18, 2022
Anxiety is Normal Going for a trip to the doctor of any type can be a really stressful experience for kids. They have to break from their normal routine, travel to an unfamiliar place, interact with unfamiliar people, and might find what goes on quite unpleasant. It’s completely normal, but it can put parents in the difficult position of putting their children through something they don’t want to do and might feel great apprehension about. Many parents might feel at a loss for what to do, so we’ve compiled a list of advice for parents whose children are feeling anxious about their eye exam.

Is It Time for an Eye Exam?

By Bob Hansen • November 3, 2022
Your Vision is a Priority Let’s start this off by saying that if you can’t remember your last eye exam, it’s time to get one scheduled as soon as possible. For the rest of us though, it can be difficult to know the telltale signs that you should have your eyes checked or the frequency with which you should get a check up. We’ve compiled a guideline here to help you know when to get that appointment booked so that you won’t find yourself wondering, “Is it time for an eye exam?”
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