Nutrition & Eye Health

Were you ever told to finish your carrots at dinner because it was good for your eyes? Well, I’m here to tell you…it’s true. Carrots carry vitamin A which can support retinal function and night vision.

However, there are other nutrients that can optimize your eye health that we didn’t hear about as much as kids. For example, green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach, carry lutein and zeaxanthin that can increase retinal health. Omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, as well as flaxseed and walnuts, help with dry eye disease.

Often, people will take supplements to ensure that they are ingesting enough of the above-mentioned nutrients, however not all supplements are made the same. For example, with Omega 3s, it is important to have the right ratio of EPA:DHA (active ingredients) to have a benefit in dry eye, which most generic omega 3s don’t have. The other thing to keep in mind is that even though you may be taking a supplement, the amount of the nutrient that the body actually absorbs may not be 100%. We call this bioavailability; and for an omega 3 supplement it must be a triglyceride-based formula as opposed to an ester-based formula to maximize the supplement’s bioavailability.

If you’re unsure if your omega 3 supplement follows the above guidelines, you can stop by our clinic any time as we carry scientifically proven supplements that you can purchase any time.

Thanks for reading!

Dr. Sameera Jhamb, Optometrist