Maintain Healthy Vision

Eating Right Can Protect Your Vision, Study Says

May 28, 2015 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Did you know what you eat not only affects your physical health, but also your eye health? According to Dr. James McDonnell, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Loyola University Health System, fresh fruits and vegetables can help keep your eyes healthy and protect you from certain conditions, such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

“Make a colorful plate, especially with greens, blues, and reds,” said McDonnell. “Certain foods have distinct benefits for the eyes in addition to overall health, including many of the trendy superfoods such as kale, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.

According to a study published in The Archives of Ophthalmology, a healthy diet could be one of the factors responsible for the decrease in macular degeneration amongst Americans over age 40.

Important Nutrients for Eye Health

Astaxanthin
Omega-3
Anthocyanins
Vitamin D
Zeaxanthin
Bioflavonoids
Lutein

“It’s always best to get the nutrients we know help vision from foods,” says Elizabeth J. Johnson, PhD., a research scientist and associate professor at Tufts University in Boston. “Foods may contain many other nutrients we aren’t aware of that may help, too.”

Over the years, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. He can help you too.

While regularly eating foods rich in the above nutrients can help lead to good eye health, the best way to protect your vision and ensure your eyes stay healthy is with periodic eye exams. This is why the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends that people between the ages of three and 39 have their eyes examined every couple of years. At the age of 40, everyone should have a baseline eye screening. Based on the results of the initial screening, an ophthalmologist will prescribe the necessary intervals for follow-up exams. Seniors – over the age of 65 – should have complete eye exams every one to two years.

Comprehensive Eye Exams from the Anne Arundel Eye Center

The Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and cataracts. Led by board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, AAEC offers complete ophthalmic exams, as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Over the years, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. He can help you too.

“I treat my patients the way I want to be treated when I see a doctor.” – Dr. Boles

If you wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC), please contact Board Certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, Dr. Kathryn Gurganus Turner, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or Click Here to fill out our contact form.

You can also follow AAEC on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Nonrefractive Vision Problems on the rise; when was your last Eye Exam?

August 30, 2013 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

According to a study published last year in the Journal of American Medical Association, nonrefractive vision problems – those vision problems that cannot be treated with glasses or contacts – are on the rise, fueled by the diabetes and obesity epidemic. In fact, the number of nonrefractive vision problems increased by 21% (more than 700,000 people) between two survey periods: 1999 to 2002 and 2005 to 2008.

“The increasing diabetes prevalence in the U.S. is leading to more vision loss,” according to David S. Friedman, MD, PhD, MPH, the director of the Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute and Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.

Friedman and his fellow researchers analyzed data from a large national database in 1999-2002 and 2005-2008. The only risk factor that increased along with the prevalence of nonrefractive vision problems was diabetes.

“The number of people who have had diabetes for more than 10 years has more than doubled in the last six or seven years,” said Friedman.

If current diabetes rates continue, we will continue to see instances of nonrefractive vision problems increase, according to Friedman. Preventing diabetes and losing weight is the first step in preserving vision. The second step is regular eye exams.

When was your last Eye Exam?

Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at the Anne Arundel Eye Center have helped preserve thousands of patients’ vision. Let us help you too! We offer comprehensive ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. The Anne Arundel Eye Center and its caring staff are dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

If you have any questions about Nonrefractive Vision Problems or wish to schedule an appointment with the Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact Dr. Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Sources:

Vision Problems rising rapidly in the U.S. WebMD

Could Eating Your Vegetables Help Maintain Healthy Vision?

May 14, 2013 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Maybe your mother was onto something when she continuously told you to “Finish your Vegetables.” According to a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, women who eat large amounts of vegetables – like broccoli, squash, corn, and peas – better Maintain Healthy Vision as they age.

Suzen Moeller, PhD, and colleagues studied more than 1,700 women between the ages of 50 and 79. Each women completed a survey about their current diet, a survey about their diet 15 years earlier, and had high-tech photos taken of their eyes to screen for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), a progressive eye disease that causes damage to the Macular, the part of the retina portion of the eye. AMD is also the leading cause of irreversible blindness in people over the age of 65. Currently, there is no cure for AMD, and treatments are limited.

Of those studied, 361 women showed signs of AMD. 327, about 18%, showed signs of intermediate AMD, while 34 showed signs of advanced AMD.

The study showed that healthy women younger than 75 with high lutein and zeaxanthin intake on both food surveys were less likely to have AMD. Lutein and zeaxanthin are two nutrients found in vegetables, such as broccoli, squash, corn, and peas. Lutein and zeaxanthin are also found in egg yolks and supplements.

However, more research is needed before the findings can be confirmed. Moeller even admitted that “Our results could be due to chance.”

If you have any questions about our blog, “Could Eating Your Vegetables Help Maintain Healthy Vision?” or if you would like to know more about Age-Related Macular Degeneration, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at the Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Source:

Eat Your Veggies, Keep Your Vision WebMD