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Is Your Diet Impacting Your Vision?

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Ophthalmologist Services Springfield MAYou are what you eat, right? Yes, it’s true that if you eat a diet high in bad fats and high in cholesterol (like that burger you at last weekend, oops!) then you are at a higher risk of being overweight. But when it comes to other parts of your health— like your vision— how much of an impact does your diet have? Let’s take a closer look.

Macular Degeneration

In an article published by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition last summer, it said that a diet high in starchy and sugary foods could increase your chances of getting macular degeneration— an eye disease that can cause vision loss or impairment. In the study, it said that the frequent spike in blood sugar is what had the most influence on the development of macular degeneration. The same study also indicated that people who ate a healthy diet that was s rich in antioxidants were less likely to get macular degeneration.

Protection

Your eyes are exposed to a variety of different environmental factors each day which can contribute to a variety of different eye diseases and problems. Studies show that people who eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables— especially leafy greens— that contain nutrients like zeaxanthin have more protection against oxidative changes to the retina. If you aren’t already eating enough leafy greens, try adding a spinach salad to your dinner plate every night or try making a green smoothie for breakfast each morning.

Healing

As previously mentioned, antioxidants are good at protecting your eyes against macular degeneration, but did you know that they are also good at healing your eyes as well? Plus, antioxidants may be in some of your favorite foods like dark chocolate, berries, and even some nuts!

To learn more about how you can take better care of your vision or to schedule an appointment, contact our Papale Eye Center office at 413.782-0030.

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3 Things to Know About Macular Degeneration

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Macular Degeneration Springfield MassachusettsMacular degeneration is an eye disease that primarily impacts individuals who are in their fifties and sixties— however, it can affect individuals of all ages. As the leading cause of vision loss, macular degeneration is an eye disease whose cause is unknown. There are certain things that we do know about this eye disease, however. This article will discuss three things that you should be aware of about macular degeneration. Read on to learn more.

  1. There Is No Cure

Unfortunately, at this time, there is no cure for macular degeneration, but there are several treatment options. For instance, if you start to show symptoms and signs of macular degeneration your doctor at Papale Eye Center will likely use a combination of vitamins and minerals to help slow the progression. If it gets worse or if it is more advanced, you can always get laser surgery to help restore your vision and prevent you from losing more of your eyesight.

  1. It’s Genetic

Recently, there has been a lot of scientific evidence that points to the fact that macular degeneration is, in fact, genetic. Specifically, studies point to the fact that about fifty percent of patients who have macular degeneration got it through genetics. So, if you have a family history of this eye disease, make sure that you are getting frequent testing by the doctors at Papale Eye Center.

  1. It Doesn’t Cause Blindness

As a common misconception about macular degeneration, it won’t cause you to go blind. It will, however, skew your vision and cause you to have certain blind spots which usually means that you will be diagnosed as “legally blind.” So although you will still be able to make out certain objects and images when you have macular degeneration, you likely won’t be able to do things like drive.

During your annual eye examination, one of our eye doctors can check you for macular degeneration. If you would like to schedule your examination, contact the doctors at Papale Eye Center today!

 

 

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