A healthy lifestyle consisting of a sensible exercise regime and good eating habits is the basis of keeping the eyes from deteriorating with the onset of age.
Avoid straining your eyes by reading in poor light, be sure to protect your eyes from bright sunlight, windy conditions and for winter sports enthusiasts, be aware of the hazard of snow glare. Maintain a regular intake of the essential vitamins that will slow down the effects of age on your eyes.
Taking sensible precautions to protect our eyes is paramount at any age but as we grow older so vitamins play an increasing part in maintaining the health of our eyes.
Vitamin A
This vitamin, found in carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, sweet peppers and colored vegetables, beef and chicken livers, cod liver oil, butter, eggs, milk and cheese, melon and apricots, plays a major role in defending the eyes against age. Glaucoma is the major cause of blindness throughout the world and can strike at any age, although we get more susceptible to the condition as we grow older. Vitamin A is essential in easing the symptoms, it also necessary in protecting against night blindness, dry eyes and increases protection against infection. It is has anti oxidant an anti carcinogenic properties.
Vitamin B
Although all the B vitamins play an part in treating dry eye, the function of Vitamin B6 is vital in aiding the body to absorb magnesium to form prostaglandin, essential for tear production. Sources include liver, turkey, tuna, whole grains, bananas, lentils, beans and potatoes.
Vitamin C
A higher concentration of vitamin C is found in tears than in blood, it is vital for the production of healthy tears and the avoidance of dry eye. It is said to be a help in preventing cataracts, protects the eyes from infections, improves vision, has anti oxidant and anti carcinogenic properties and strengthens the bodies immune system. Most importantly, it is a vital aid in the prevention of age related macular degeneration. Food sources are similar to those of vitamin A with spinach, collard greens, papaya, mango, peas, oranges and strawberries.
Vitamin D
It only takes a few minutes of exposure to sunlight each day to keep the Vitamin D levels up to the required levels for body and eye fitness but remember the dangers of over exposure to those harmful rays and wear your sunglasses. Otherwise oily fish and cod liver oil, egg yolks, and beef liver will keep levels up on wintry sunless days. Vitamin D lowers the risk of macular degeneration and eye infections, is involved in maintaining the immune system and thus in healthy eyes, and is an aid to maintaining good vision.
Vitamin E
Another vitamin that beefs up your immune system preventing and helping to fight eye diseases and infections, particularly in age related macular degeneration. Eating nuts, olive and sunflower oil, eggs, sardines, avocados, peaches, papayas, kiwi fruit and pumpkins will help maintain the necessary levels of Vitamin E that the body and eyes need to function efficiently.
All the vitamins play an essential role in eye health but as we age some become more important than others. Glaucoma, which if caught early enough can be contained, and macular degeneration are the most prevalent major sight threatening conditions that increase as we age, so that healthy diet becomes also becomes more necessary as time passes. Near and long sight problems also become more acute as we age so maintaining a diet rich in vitamins that encourage good vision is also important. If you are considering taking supplements to boost your vitamin intake do take medical advice first. Over indulging in some vitamins and nutrients can be toxic.
