Nutritional Counseling

Most people don't realize the impact dietary choices have on eye health. Carrots, spinach, citrus fruits and soy products may reduce your risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma while certain vitamins can help decrease dry eye and night blindness symptoms.

Depending on the condition of your eyes and vision, your Paso Robles and Los Osos eye doctors will provide nutritional counseling conducive to improving your eye health.

Optometric Care Associates' patients are lucky to have the opportunity to discuss the interplay between nutrition and overall eye health with our very own Dr. Brent Wells.  Dr. Wells studied nutrition as an undergraduate, is a member of the Ocular Nutrition Society and endeavors to educate his patients throughout his optometric exams with his patients.  There are certain nutrients that are essential to good eye health, nutrients that can preserve your vision into old age that can be taken either by way of supplements or change in diet.  Some of the important eye-healthy nutrients are Lucetin and Zeaxanthin, Zinc, Essential Fatty Acids and Vitamins C and E.

Many nutritionists are fond of encouraging people to utilize their eyes when deciding their foods, but not necessarily by staring through the bakery window.  The color of different vegetables has meaning and the more colorful your salad, the more varied nutrients you are digesting.  For example, green leafy vegetables such as kale or spinach (or if you prefer collard greens, peas, broccoli or honeydew) are rich in Lucetin and zeaxanthin, nutrients that protect eye tissue from UV damage and help reduce the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other ocular diseases.  Orange colored sweet potatoes and squash are a good source of beta-carotene, also known to slow the development of macular degeneration.  The beta-carotene helps reduce the risk of night blindness and prevent symptoms associated with Dry Eyes.  Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, salmon, chia seeds and walnuts are also shown to help prevent dry eyes.  The list of eye-healthy foods can be endless.  Dr. Wells and the entire staff at Optometric Care Associates invites you to discuss your eye health today.