Eat For Your Eyes

You Eat With Your Eyes.  

"Eat For Your Eyes."

Eating healthy is an essential part of maintaining good eye health. By having a well-balanced diet full of nutrients, you improve your eyesight and decrease your chances of developing eye-related diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Some nutrients that good for your eyes include: Vitamin C, Lutein, Zinc, and Omega 3's. 

You have probably heard the myth that carrots are good for your eyes. This is true. Carrots provide your body with beta carotene, potassium, and fiber. These nutrients act as a form of protection for your cornea and can also help to prevent nyctalopia, also more commonly known as "night blindness."

Leafy green vegetables such as kale and spinach also have eye health benefits. They contain lutein and zeaxanthin. Like carrots, these also help to protect the cornea. Leafy green vegetables like spinach promote good vision and work to prevent against diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. 

As you can see, proper nutrition and eye health go hand in hand. If your body is not getting the proper nutrients, your eyes could suffer. Some additional foods that we recommend incorporating into your diet are strawberries, blueberries, oranges, nuts, and salmon.

A Good Cry

It is estimated that the average person produces approximately 5-10 ounces of tears each day. You may also be surprised to learn that there are different types of tears, made up of different layers, and that occur for different reasons! Basal tears, for example, are constantly in production. They are composed of three separate layers which are the mucus layer, the aqueous layer, and the lipid layer. They offer protection for the eyes against dirt and debris. Reflex tears are another type of tears that we produce. These tears have the ability to wash away substances that may be harmful to our bodies. They are also able to stop microorganisms because they are composed of antibodies. If you have ever gotten teary eyed while chopping onions, you were experiencing reflex tears. Chopping an onion breaks apart the cells and creates a chemical reaction which releases a chemical irritant that alerts our body to produce reflex tears. The last type of tears that I will talk about are emotional tears. These are caused when we experience an intense emotion such as sadness or even happiness. They work as somewhat of a mood stabilizer. Emotional tears differ from basal and reflex tears because they carry higher levels of stress hormones such as ACTH. They also contain high levels of endorphin, a feel good hormone that makes us happy and relieves pain.

Regardless of how you may feel about crying, there is no denying the benefits. Tears work as a line of defense against things like bacteria, illness, and stress. Next time you find yourself in tears remember that not only is it normal to cry, it is healthy to cry. Tears flush out toxins, kill bacteria, lubricate, provide nourishment, improve mood, and lower stress levels. So go ahead, have a good cry! 😂

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca - What Is It?

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, or dry eyes, is a condition that effects approximately 5 million Americans. Dry eyes may be accompanied by symptoms such as discomfort, discoloration, inflammation, and a sensitivity to light. They are the result of your eyes not producing enough tears and are most common in elderly. It can, however, effect men and women of all ages. For those dealing with dry eyes, the solution could be something as simple as limiting your screen time (cell phone, laptop, television, etc.) or using a humidifier in your home. If the problem persists for more than a week we recommend seeing your primary eye care physician. They can provide you with treatment as well as inform you of any possible underlying issues that you may have.

Welcome To Our Blog!

We are excited to announce to our customers, family, and friends that we now have a blog! Each month we will post on informative topics that relate to the eyes and proper eye care. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to leave them for us in the comment section below. If there is a topic that you would like to learn more about please let us know. You might just see it in our next blog post! 😃