Can Leafy Greens Really Help Your Eyesight?

A balanced diet is essential to your overall health, and there are many types of food that are specifically beneficial to your eyesight. Incorporating these foods into your regular diet can help you reduce your risk of developing certain eye conditions.

The positive effects green leafy vegetables have on your eyesight have been studied and proven time and again by many studies. Today, your optometrist at Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic sheds light on this.

Essential Vitamins and Minerals

Your optometrist may have recommended that you incorporate more dark green vegetables into your diet. These foods contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two compounds that can help your retina filter out harmful blue light. Without these substances, your eyes are more likely to become strained from digital devices such smartphones and computers.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

As you are, your macula, or the part of your retina that helps with focusing your vision, degenerates. This is known as age-related macular degeneration or AMD. Eating plenty of kale, spinach and lettuce can help delay the effects of this condition because these vegetables are rich in antioxidants that help protect your eyes from free radicals that cause damage.

Cataract Prevention

You may have also heard your optometrist tell you that green leafy vegetables help prevent the formation of cataracts. Lutein, which is particularly helpful in keeping your lenses clear, is an important mineral that prevents the foggy cloudy formation on the lenses, a common early sign of cataracts.

Get more eye-healthy tips from our specialists at Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic, your number one eye care clinic. Give us a call at (425) 771-8472 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation today. We serve Bothell, Lynnwood and Shoreline patients as well as other surrounding areas in WA.