You can obtain the minerals and vitamins your eyes need by filling your plate with colorful fruits and vegetables, fish and healthy oils.

When composing your grocery list, consider some of these eye-healthy entrees and sides:

Salmon

Salmon contains fat, but not all fat is unhealthy. In fact, your eyes require omega-3 fatty acids to prevent dry eye and macular degeneration. Fatty acids also facilitate proper drainage of inner eye fluid to prevent glaucoma. Salmon and other oily fish contain rich levels of omega-3 fatty acids, so look for some recipes with salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel or herring for your entrée.

Sweet Potato

Instead of a traditional baked potato to accompany your fish, try a baked sweet potato with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a small amount of real butter. It’s a perfect accompaniment to a piece of flavorful fish, and your eyes will benefit from the beta-carotene and vitamin E. These essential antioxidants protect your eyes from UV damage and environmental toxins that can contribute to cataracts.

Carrots

Carrots may not cure all your vision problems, but they can help you maintain high levels of vitamin A. This critical antioxidant is an essential ingredient in rhodopsin, a unique protein that allows the retina to absorb light.

Citrus and Leafy Greens

Citrus fruits are full of vitamin C, and leafy greens contain vitamin C, lutein and zeaxanthin. These powerful antioxidants can prevent premature cataract development and can counteract the natural effects of aging. For an extra dose of nutrients, prepare a green salad of spinach and kale topped with sliced oranges and a sprinkle of walnuts (which contain healthy oils that lubricate the membranes of the eye).

Call an Ophthalmologist Near You

A nutritious diet, regular exercise and routine eye exams offer powerful protection against eye disease. Call your ophthalmologist if it has been more than a year since your last comprehensive eye exam. Many eye diseases do not exhibit symptoms in early stages and, if not detected, can cause permanent vision loss. Call your eye care center for an appointment today.

According to the eye health and safety organization, Prevent Blindness, American children incur an estimated 11,000 toy-related injuries each year. While a minor corneal abrasion may heal quickly, a retinal detachment or corneal ulcer from a toy injury can cause severe eye damage.

Here is a list of some of the types of toys that pose the greatest threat to your child’s vision and how you can keep your child safe when using them:

Sporting Equipment

Problem:

Baseball bats, tennis racquets and lacrosse sticks can cause blunt or penetrating injuries.

Solution:

If you buy sports gear or equipment for your child, ensure that he or she is using proper eye protection and head protection. Always supervise your child outside during practice and play time, and do not allow sporting equipment indoors.

Toy Weapons

Problem:

Light sabers, wands and swords can have sharp edges and cause eye trauma. Dart guns, paintball guns, BB guns and airsoft rifles launch objects that can cause lacerations, increased eye pressure, cataracts and vision loss.

Solution:

Projectile toys are never safe, so avoid purchasing toy guns for children. If you buy any toy that could be used as a weapon, accompany the gift with proper eye protection and require that your child wear the safety glasses when using the toy.

Laser Pointers

Problem:

Laser pointers seem harmless, but eye specialists warn against allowing children to use them. Staring at a laser beam directly or through a mirror can injure the retina and permanently limit central vision.

Solution:

A flashlight is a safer alternative to a laser pointer and poses less risk to the eyes. Remind kids never to shine any type of light into the eyes.

December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month, so commit to purchasing safe, age-appropriate toys for your children this holiday season. If you have a question about the safety of a specific toy, call your ophthalmologist. It is also wise to schedule comprehensive eye exams for the whole family before the year ends. An eye exam with dilation is crucial for optimum eye health because it can detect refraction errors, focusing problems and degenerative eye diseases like cataracts and glaucoma. Call your eye doctor today to make an appointment.

Excess glucose in the blood can cause damage to blood vessels in the eyes, causing them to swell and leak fluid. This condition is known as diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes can also increase the risk of cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic macular edema.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 90 percent of diabetes-related vision loss is preventable through early detection, but 60 percent of people with diabetes are not seeing their eye doctors regularly.

You can protect your vision by following these four tips:

Quit Smoking

Smoking can cause diabetic retinopathy to develop faster and make it more difficult to regulate blood glucose levels. Cigarettes and tobacco also increase your chances of having a stroke or a heart attack.

Wear Sunglasses

Protect your eyes from harmful UV radiation by wearing sunglasses that offer 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. Diabetes increases your risk for cataracts by 60 percent, so it is imperative to wear sunglasses whenever you are outdoors.

Exercise Daily and Eat a Well-Balanced Diet

Daily exercise helps manage your weight, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Hypertension can accelerate leakage in retinal blood vessels, so exercise regularly and get regular blood pressure checks. As for your diet, choose high-protein, low-sugar foods that include plenty of leafy greens and an abundance of omega-3 fatty acids.

Make Regular Appointments with Your Physician Care Team

Good communication with your doctors, dentist and ophthalmologist is essential to properly manage your diabetes. Schedule annual comprehensive eye exams so your eye doctor can provide you with a complete evaluation of your vision health. If you are exhibiting signs of diabetic eye disease, your doctor can detect the problem and intervene early to help protect your vision.

Diabetic eye disease can develop without symptoms or warning signs, so call your eye doctor to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.

What is Type-2 Diabetes?

Type-2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, is caused by insulin resistance which results in high blood glucose levels. The condition occurs most often in older or middle-aged adults, but it can also occur in teens and children.

Unmanaged type-2 diabetes can lead to many health complications and can increase the risk of glaucoma, a family of eye diseases characterized by dangerously high eye pressure. Spikes in intraocular pressure can damage the optic nerve and can cause progressive vision loss and blindness.

Glaucoma can be challenging to diagnose because it often develops slowly without noticeable symptoms. By the time changes in eyesight are noticed, permanent nerve damage has already occurred.

If you have type-2 diabetes, you can take two proactive steps to prevent glaucoma and protect your vision.

Manage Your Diabetes to Prevent Glaucoma

Controlling your diabetes can help promote overall health and prevent glaucoma and vision loss. This includes eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly and taking your medication as directed. When you regulate your blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol, you are actively reducing your risk of glaucoma. 

Being obese and leading a sedentary lifestyle contribute to insulin resistance, so talk to your doctor about how to lose weight with diet and exercise.

Annual Eye Exams Can Prevent Glaucoma

Visit an ophthalmologist at least once per year for a comprehensive eye exam with dilation. During the exam, the ophthalmologist will dilate your pupil to evaluate the health of your retina, retinal blood vessels and optic nerve. Dilation is essential to monitor your eye health and assess your risk for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, another diabetes-related eye condition, which can damage retinal blood vessels.

November is National Diabetes Month, so call your eye doctor to make an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam with dilation. Your ophthalmologist can also provide strategies for effectively managing your diabetes and preserving your eyesight. 

November is National Diabetes Month, a time to focus on diabetes prevention and management. About 10 percent of Americans have diabetes, a disease that affects the body’s ability to use glucose for energy. Diabetes is especially prevalent among seniors, affecting about 25 percent of Americans age 65 and older.

Diabetes Can Double the Risk for Cataracts

According to a recent study in the United Kingdom, having diabetes can double the risk of developing cataracts, an eye disease that progressively clouds the lens of the eye and blurs vision. Among all age groups, the study found that the relative risk for cataract development is highest in adults between the ages of 45 and 54.

The study looked at medical records from over 56,000 patients who had diabetes and were older than 40. Cataract diagnosis among this group was 20.4 per 1,000 people compared to 10.8 percent per 1,000 people in the general population.

Cataracts: Common but Treatable

The risk of developing cataracts increases with age. Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss among adults 55 and older, but people with diabetes are at risk for developing cataracts more rapidly and at an earlier age.

If you have diabetes, you can protect your vision by scheduling regular eye appointments with an ophthalmologist. Frequent check-ups allow your eye doctor to monitor your eye health and detect diabetic eye diseases like cataracts, as well as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.  These diseases often develop without noticeable symptoms, so early detection is paramount.

Schedule an Eye Appointment During National Diabetes Month

Make an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam during National Diabetes Month. Even if you do not have diabetes, you should make an eye appointment as part of your commitment to your vision health.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that affects how your body uses sugar. Over 30 million Americans have diabetes, including 12 million seniors. Chronic diabetes can cause eye damage that can lead to low vision or blindness.

Diabetic eye disease is the collective term for several eye conditions that commonly affect people with diabetes. Some of the most common forms of diabetic eye disease are glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy.

Glaucoma and Diabetes

Glaucoma is a family of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting visual images to the brain. High blood sugar levels can cause tissues and blood vessels in the eyes to swell and leak fluid. Some patients with diabetes develop “neovascularization” in which blood vessels grow on the iris and obstruct the flow of fluid within the eye. Blocked fluid flow may lead to dangerous levels of inner eye pressure and cause glaucoma.

Cataracts and Diabetes

A cataract is the progressive clouding of the eye lens, which causes distorted vision. Anyone can develop cataracts, but people with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts. Diabetes also causes cataracts to progress faster.

Cataract-related vision loss is reversible through a simple outpatient procedure that replaces the deteriorated lens with a customized intraocular lens (IOL). Cataract surgery is one of the most common outpatient procedures performed today, with greater than a 95 percent success rate.

Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy

Any retinal damage that develops from diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy. This eye disease alters retinal blood vessels and causes them to leak blood or fluid within the eye, which impairs vision. Other symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include floaters, shadows and missing areas in the visual field. Many people with diabetic retinopathy do not experience any symptoms in the early stages.

Schedule a Comprehensive Eye Exam

You can prevent diabetic eye disease by managing your diabetes and visiting your eye doctor regularly for frequent eye exams. Comprehensive eye exams with dilation are essential for healthy eyes and clear vision, especially for people with diabetes. 

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, so call your ophthalmologist to schedule a comprehensive eye exam today.

The Eye-Brain Connection

Did you know that you have a small area in the center of your retina that helps with your precise vision? A recent study found that this central zone in the retina was significantly larger in patients in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s disease before they experienced symptoms.

The central nervous system and the retina are inextricably linked, and changes in the brain can often be detected in the eyes. Research shows that advanced Alzheimer’s disease has been linked to thinning of the central retina and degeneration of the optic nerve.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease affects 50 million people worldwide and is the most common form of dementia. For reasons that remain unknown, abnormal proteins begin to accumulate in the brain and interrupt central nervous system signals.

Protein deposits, known as plaque, can collect in the brain for up to 20 years before symptoms begin to appear. By the time Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed, the plaque has already caused irreversible brain damage.

New Imaging Technique Indicates Early Alzheimer’s

A team of researchers from Washington University School of Medicine used a technique called optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) to analyze the thickness of retinal tissue and optic nerve fibers in 30 patients who had no symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. OCT-A is an extension of optical coherence tomography (OCT) – one of the many standard tests you may receive at a comprehensive eye exam.

The patients then underwent traditional testing for Alzheimer’s disease including positron emission tomography (PET) scans and cerebrospinal fluid analyses. These tests showed that about half of the patients had elevated levels of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The research team found that the patients with elevated protein levels also exhibited significant thinning of the central retina.

The authors of the study are optimistic that routine eye exams could become an essential screening tool to determine who should pursue testing for Alzheimer’s disease. PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid analyses are invasive and expensive, so it is difficult to justify these tests in the absence of symptoms. If further studies confirm similar findings, eye exams would offer a cost-effective method to screen younger individuals to assess their risk for the disease.

Call Your Eye Doctor

In the future, when better treatments are available, early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease could open possibilities for earlier intervention to delay the progression of the disease. A comprehensive eye exam is much more than just a vision check-up. A full eye exam with dilation provides a window into your overall health, and the ability to predict Alzheimer’s disease may have just made that window a little larger.

If you wear contact lenses, you may remember how diligent you were when you first got them. You were likely very careful to follow your eye doctor’s instructions when it came to lens care and cleaning. Somewhere along the way though, you may have stopped reading lens manufacturer’s care instructions and warning labels, figuring that you had contact lens care under control.

It is always beneficial to review some basic tips in contact lens care. Most infections and eye injuries related to contact lenses can be avoided by following some basic guidelines. Here is a brief refresher on some “Dos and Don’ts” for contact lens wearers:

Are you planning to buy a new Halloween costume for yourself or a child this year? Many Halloween costumes and masks can threaten your vision health. Before you make your selection, evaluate all elements of your costume based on these safety reminders:

Choose a Light-Colored Costume

Many Halloween costumes include dark colors, which can be a safety hazard at night. Light colors will help motorists see you and your children, so encourage kids to select a costume with lighter, brighter colors.

Widen Eye Holes in Masks

Most masks have small eye holes that limit the visual field and affect depth perception. If you or your child wants to wear a mask while trick-or-treating, you can widen the eyeholes with scissors to increase visibility. Be sure to try on the mask first to make sure there are no sharp edges around the eye openings.

Purchase Age-Appropriate Props

Read all warnings and labels on props and adhere to the recommended age guidelines. Inspect props carefully to ensure they are not broken, cracked or damaged. Avoid props that shoot or that have sharp edges, ridges or points.

Be Careful with Face Makeup

Applying makeup can be a safer alternative to wearing a mask, but makeup can cause eye issues as well. Read the ingredients in makeup before purchase and check the ingredients against the cosmetic section in the FDA’s Summary of Color Additives. Each color additive in your makeup should be on the FDA’s approved list of colors. When applying makeup, do not apply it near the eyes and wash it off as soon as you come home.

Avoid Decorative Contact Lenses

Decorative contact lenses can give you cat eyes or zombie eyes, but they can also give your eyes an infection or an abrasion. Non-prescription contacts can scratch your cornea or create a corneal ulcer, a dangerous bacterial infection. The colors and pigments in decorative contact lenses can make them less breathable and restrict oxygen to your cornea.

If you have specific questions about Halloween costumes and eye safety, call your ophthalmologist. If it has been over a year since you have had a comprehensive eye exam, schedule an appointment for yourself and your family. Staying current with eye exams will ensure that your family enjoys clear vision as we enter the holiday season.