Good Nutrition for the Eyes

By Siobhan Walsh,

The prescription for maintaining good eyesight, I was reminded last week, is eating well. That was good news for a dietitian who thought she needed reading glasses, but learned differently by seeking an opinion from a local optometrist.

Dr. Arthur Medina, the owner of Your Eyes Optical,gave me the good news and then talked about the importance of diet to maintaining vision, especially for seniors as more people live into their 80s and 90s.

A decade ago, glaucoma was the No. 1 cause of blindness for people 65 years or older in the United States, but now it is macular degeneration, which Medina describes as the central portion of the vision appearing as a dull gray haze while the periphery remains in focus.

"The people who invented rock 'n' roll, hula hoops and Buster Brown shoes now have to confront age-related macular degeneration (AMD)," Medina said.

Individuals who smoke, who have diabetes or hypertension, or a family history of AMD are at increased risk.

He points his finger at his own generation of baby boomers now responsible for the care of their elderly parents. "It is difficult to convince people who are not willing to admit they've aged. This is heavy stuff," he says.

There's truth to the adage that carrots are good for your vision. They're rich in beta carotene, which is converted into vitamin A, an essential nutrient for maintaining good eyesight. So are other yellow and orange vegetables, such as squash and peppers.

"Mother always knows best, and it is proven by the Age-Related Eye Disease (ARED) study," Medina said, citing research that found "a combination of antioxidants and zinc had a real impact on the eye related? to macular degeneration and age-related eye dis-?ease."

Leafy, green vegetables — kale, spinach, collard, mustard and turnip greens and broccoli — are rich in carotenoids, especially lutein and zeaxanthin. Medina described lutein as the sunglasses inside the eye that block the damaging effects of blue light.

Medina suggests taking an ocular encapsulated nutritional supplement with antioxidants, zinc and lutein as an inexpensive insurance.