Protect eye health every day

According to a 2006 Canadian poll, most of us wouldn’t trade our eyesight for a lottery win, a healthy life to the ripe age of 100, or a lifetime of great sex.

By Lisa Petty, BA, RNCP

Over half of us would trade our right arm – or some other physical ability – to regain our sight if we lost it. Yet many Canadians visit the dentist more often than we check up on our eye health, even though vision loss can often be prevented by early detection.

Eye dysfunction
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss for people over the age of 60, but it can also affect people as early as age 40. The macula is the central and most sensitive portion of the retina – a nerve-rich area at the back of the eye. As we age, the macula breaks down, causing deterioration of central vision and fine-detail perception. Free radicals caused by cigarette smoking, sun exposure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diets high in saturated fat are significant factors in AMD. Fruits and vegetables that are red, yellow and orange contain carotenoids that protect eye health. Early detection is essential to the success of treatment.

Cataracts involve the clouding of the lens of the eye, which impedes light from entering. The most common cataracts are age-related, but they can also occur in people as young as age 40. Some cataracts are from eye injury or heredity, and secondary cataracts can form because of infections or diseases like diabetes. Early signs of trouble include blurry vision, seeing spots, sensitivity to glare or feeling like you have a film over your eyes.

Glaucoma is an eye disease that gradually steals sight without warning and involves unusually high pressure within the eyeball that damages the optic nerve. Because there may be no symptoms, some experts believe that half of those affected by glaucoma aren’t aware of it. In the early stages, vision loss begins with peripheral vision causing you to turn your head to the side to compensate. Experts recommend moderate exercise and a healthy low-sodium diet to keep arterial blood pressure down to reduce pressure on eye fluids. Regular eye exams are essential, especially over age 60.

See-food
Studies show that a diet high in serum carotenoids not only protects the retina from the effects of the free radicals, but also helps to form the macular pigment that protects the macula. Of the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin are arguably the most important as they are the only macular pigments found throughout the tissues of the eye. Get your lutein and zeaxanthin in leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, parsley, and collard greens.

Antioxidant vitamin A is essential for night vision, and vitamin C is known to absorb UV light and may help prevent cataracts by stopping photo-oxidation of the lens. Bioflavonoids like those found in blueberries strengthen capillaries and improve the delivery of oxygen and blood that nourish the eye.

The bottom line – there’s no replacement for your eyes. Make them a priority, and start taking care of them today.

H&L