See how careful intake of certain nutrients is important to prevent eye diseases

Taking care of your diet is an essential factor in maintaining eye health, as many nutrients contribute to protecting vision and preventing diseases. However, excessive consumption of certain substances can be harmful to the eyes.

“It is important to think about balance when we eat, reflecting on how the obsession with more ingredients and vitamins, sold as beneficial, can, ironically, leave us with consequences, such as seeing less”, explains Dr. Thais Borges, ophthalmologist at H. Eyes – Eye Hospital, which helps us understand this tenuous relationship between good and bad eating habits related to vision. Check it out!

Carrots are a great example to illustrate the effects of excess eye supplements. This vegetable is an excellent source of beta-carotene, essential for eye health. However, excessive consumption of supplements of this substance – easily found in pharmacies and online marketplaces – can cause problems, such as hypervitaminosis A. The most common symptoms include blurred vision and photopsia, the perception of flashes or sparks of light.

Another myth is the indiscriminate consumption of antioxidants. According to the expert, a diet rich in antioxidants, especially from fresh fruits and vegetables, can help protect cells against eye damage, but excessive consumption can trigger intestinal problems and cause unexpected reactions in the body, making it necessary to be careful when ingest a nutritional additive without a medical prescription.

According to Dr. Thais Borges, vitamins and nutritional supplements are not a cure for eye diseases, nor will they restore vision that has already been lost. “But good nutrition at all ages is vital for the entire body and plays an important role in maintaining eye health,” she explains.

Below, she presents 5 eating habits that should be prioritized when taking care of your eye health:

These nutrients are associated with a lower risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and possibly dry eye later in life.

Oxidation can cause cataracts, changing the composition of the lens and making it opaque. Therefore, groups of nutrients with vitamins A, C and E, carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin and selenium, which act as antioxidants, help protect our cells against damage. However, it is important to note that antioxidant supplements in pill form do not help prevent cataracts and may even be harmful.

Based on vegetables and seafood, the Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of heart disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

People who have or are at risk of developing diabetes, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), may benefit from low-glycemic index diets. With diabetes, for example, blood sugar levels can become very high, which causes serious health problems and can lead to vision loss.

In cases of dry eye, when the eyes do not produce enough or poor-quality tears to keep them lubricated and comfortable, artificial tears and medications are very helpful, but adding omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to the diet can also provide relief.

According to Dr. Thais Borges, pregnant women, people over the age of 49 or those with specific medical conditions should have additional concerns when considering vitamin supplementation and, although adequate nutrition plays an important role in eye health, it does not replace medical supervision. .

“It is important to consult an ophthalmologist before starting any supplementation, as not all supplements are suitable for every individual and the abundance of certain nutrients can be harmful to vision”, concludes the specialist.