This article highlights five dietary items to limit for optimal eye health, emphasizing the importance of proper nutrition and UV protection. It covers harmful foods, protective eyewear, and available treatments to maintain clear vision and prevent eye-related diseases.

5 Foods to Avoid to Maintain Healthy Vision

Maintaining good eye health relies heavily on your diet. Since our eyes have a rich blood supply, consuming nutritious foods helps protect blood vessels and sharpens vision. Conversely, certain foods can impair circulation and deprive the eyes of vital nutrients, risking vision problems. Identifying and limiting these foods is key to preserving eyesight. Here are five common dietary items that could negatively affect your eye health.

Margarine

Although marketed as a healthier alternative to butter made from vegetable oils, margarine often contains trans fats. These fats can elevate LDL cholesterol and increase risks of cardiovascular and eye issues.

Red Meat

Processed red meats frequently contain preservatives, high salt, and saturated fats which can raise blood pressure. This may lead to eye conditions like fluid accumulation beneath the retina, impacting vision.

Fish

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fish supports eye health but may contain mercury. Consuming too much contaminated fish can cause mercury buildup, potentially harming visual tissues.

Coffee

The caffeine in coffee offers quick energy but can increase intraocular pressure. Elevated eye pressure poses risks for individuals with glaucoma or ocular hypertension, possibly resulting in vision loss.

Sugar-Sweetened Drinks

Soft drinks, energy drinks, and flavored lemonades often contain high amounts of sugar—up to ten teaspoons per serving. Excess sugar intake heightens the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which are linked to eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

Eye Protection: Sunglasses

Besides diet, shielding your eyes from UV rays is crucial. Quality sunglasses from brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, or American Optical block UVA and UVB rays, protecting the macula—the retina's central region responsible for clear vision.

Various treatments support eye health, including VUITY eye drops for presbyopia, LUMIFY for redness and dryness, and CEQUA™ for dry eye syndrome. Laser surgeries like LASIK can correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, enhancing vision clarity.