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Eating Right For Sight

By Holly Ames/Medstar

It's important to keep an "eye on food." Eating Right For Sight

Published: Mon, September 24, 2007 - 1:51 pm Last Updated: Mon, September 24, 2007 - 2:25 pm

More and more research shows that certain vitamins can protect our vision, helping us see clearly into the future.

It took an eye opening experience for Randi Kramarz and her entire family to begin eating healthy. Randi explains, "when my eyes started deteriorating is when all of a sudden you know that's when it really became important.

Dr. Barry Kay is an Optometrist. "More and more evidence is showing how nutrition can be preventative for eye problems."

A routine eye exam discovered early signs of macular degeneration. It's a leading cause of blindness and can run in families. Randi's grandmother had it. "I'm just concerned for myself and my children knowing that we are more susceptible to it to try to do what I can to help prevent it."

Her doctor's prescription was to start piling your plate with foods rich in antioxidants. Dr. Kay says, "it's the old story eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, you pretty much covered your bases."

Dark green leafy vegetables are vital. Dr. Kay adds, "Which are like your kale and your spinach particularly high in lutein and zeaxanthin and that is our new favorite nutrient, because that seems to be the only one that's found naturally in the human lens and the retina."

Don't forget zinc and copper found in lean beef, nuts and beans. If you can't get enough nutrients through food, take a vitamin supplement. Don't smoke and wear protective sunglasses outside.

According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, we can cut our risk of vision loss 35 percent by eating healthy.