Vision Express Opticians - Vision taken seriously

There's far more to eye health than just a sight check

Everyone knows that a healthy, balanced diet is good for your body, but it can also be good for your eyes as well. The old wives' tale that eating carrots will help you see in the dark isn't that far off the mark - carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which helps to protect against night blindness and cataracts. They also contain lutein, a yellow plant pigment that lowers the risk of cataracts and protects the eyes against damage from ageing.


Eating a diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables could help to prevent eye problems and some eye conditions that can eventually lead to permanent sight damage. For instance, spinach, red peppers, leeks, peaches and blueberries all contain antioxidants including lutein and zeaxanthin, which help to protect your eyes against age-related macular degeneration, otherwise known as AMD.

Beat dry eyes with Omega-3

Omega-3 has become a byword for healthy eating in recent years as people start to appreciate how important this essential fatty acid is in a healthy diet. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-3 rich fish could significantly reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration by 40%.

Omega-3 can also help in the prevention of a condition known as 'dry eye'. Dry eye syndrome, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (in some cases), is a condition where the eyes do not make enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly, resulting in the eyes drying out and becoming sore and inflamed. If you suffer from this condition, including plenty of oily fish in your diet such as sardines, mackerel and tuna will ensure that you get a plentiful supply of Omega-3 and 6, which can help to preserve your eye sight. Flax Seed oil is also a good source for Omega-3 & 6.

Drinking water is good for eye health

Water is essential to healthy eyes

The eye is surrounded by fluid, which protects it by washing away debris and dust every time we blink. In order to maintain a healthy balance of fluid in the eye it is important to stay well hydrated. Drinking plenty of water can prevent both your body and your eyes from becoming dehydrated. Try to limit the amount of alcohol you drink, as this affects your liver and causes a drop in the level of glutathione, an antioxidant that helps protect against eye disease.

If you are following a balanced diet to help you watch your weight, you are benefiting your eyes as well. Obesity has been directly linked to the development of type-2 diabetes and one of the side-effects of this debilitating disease is the development of diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina).