Proper nutrition protects vision and eye health. Recent scientific research has demonstrated the benefits of antioxidants in slowing the effects of aging on the eye.
Dryness is a common problem of aging that affects more women than men. This potentially debilitating problem can interfere with overall comfort of the eye and the ability to wear contact lenses. Dietary supplementation with flax seed oil combined with a daily regimen of warm compresses and lid massage improves the function of the meibomian glands in the eyelids. These glands function to secrete oil into the tear film helping to slow the evaporation of tears. 1000 mg per day is a great starting dose and contains a very high level of omega 3, a powerful antioxidant.
Cataracts are thought to form as the result of accumulated damage from environmental toxins and ultraviolet (UV) light. The natural lens located behind the iris, changes its shape allowing us to focus from distance to near. As we age, this lens begins to loose its transparency. It is this loss of transparency that we call a cataract. Free radicals are highly charged molecules that try to remove electrons from the other molecules around them including strands of DNA and the proteins that form the various tissues of the body including the lens. Free radicals that form in the eye, often as the result of exposure to ultra-violet light, are thought to be one of the reasons that we develop cataracts. Anti-oxidants like vitamins E and C are thought to reduce the number of free radicals present in the eye and slow the development of cataract.
Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a condition that can cause a permanent decrease in vision. Patients with this disease have experienced damage to a specialized portion of the retina called the macula. The retina sends electrical information to the brain allowing us to experience vision. An important recent study called AREDS, short for Age Related Eye Disease study, demonstrated that for patients with intermediate age related macular degeneration there was a significantly slower progression of the disease when patients took a specific dose of vitamins and minerals.
It is important to consult your physician before commencing this type of high dosage vitamin routine as some of these may have significant side effects for people on other medications or with some specific health problems.
Some researchers believe that a diet rich in lutein and zeaxanthin helps to further protect the retina from the damaging effects of UV light by forming a protective layer of pigment over the most sensitive part of the retina. These nutrients are found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale.
While it is easy to seek out prevention in a pill, there are other means to reduce the effects of aging. Protection from ultra violet (UV) light, particularly in young people who receive half of their lifetime’s exposure to UV before they are 18, is one important step. Additionally it is important to avoid environmental toxins including cigarette smoke, which has been demonstrated to increase free radical formation. While the convenience of a vitamin tablet is certainly attractive, it is also true that these essential substances are more easily absorbed from food. A well-balanced low-fat diet and three servings of spinach per week is a great start at protecting the delicate structures of the eye.
