The ‘Best’ Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Treat Dry Eyes and Prevent Vision Loss

Eye health is important as there are a number of serious conditions that potentially threaten your vision or indicate other health conditions.

Taking care of our eyes can be difficult, as some conditions are inherited, for example, while others are caused by factors such as our environment. However, there are ways to protect your eyes and one of them is diet.

Francesca Marchetti, ophthalmologist and optometrist at Rohto Dry Aid, said: “Dry eye is a common condition that is becoming more common. It occurs when tears are not produced enough or the consistency of the tears changes. This results in insufficient lubrication of the tear film, which is accompanied inflammation and potentially “damages the surface of the eye. Dry eyes can lead to loss of vision. Alarmingly, few people are aware of this.”

Marchetti continued: “Dry eyes have many causes, including wind, cold, central heating and diet. But the top three causes of dry eyes are gender, such as being a woman, and its hormonal effects, including menopause, excessive use of computers and digital screens. and wear contact lenses.

Marchetti shared what she considers three “key” ways to prevent dry eyes through diet.

oily fish

Marchetti said fatty fish such as sardines, salmon and tuna contain omega-3 fatty acids known for their anti-inflammatory properties.

A deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids compared to omega-6 fatty acids can cause dry eyes.

Omega-3s are activated in the tear film, and a metabolic deficiency in omega-3s can be the cause of chronic inflammation of the ocular surface.

“This chronic inflammation is one of the main causes of dry eye syndrome,” Marchetti explains. “Omega-3s can help reduce this inflammation, thereby improving tear osmolarity and increasing tear stability. This helps improve the lipid layer of the tear film and prevent tears from evaporating.”

berries

Marchetti reports that daily consumption of berries (such as cranberries and strawberries) has significant anti-inflammatory activity due to the presence of the antioxidant anthocyanins.

And people who consumed berries had lower levels of inflammatory markers than people who didn’t eat berries.

Vitamin D

“Take vitamin D supplements because it is essential for the proper functioning of the tear film. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with poor tear film function,” Marchetti explained.

The sunshine vitamin likely protects the eyes by helping reduce surface inflammation and improving tear production. The National Health Service recommends taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day.

According to Marchetti, “There is a need for nutritional supplements because very few foods contain vitamin D, and although summer sun is an important source for the production of the vitamin in the skin, many of us do not expose our skin to sunlight during the daytime. summer.”

Common dry eye symptoms include if your eyes:

itchy

– painful

– there is redness

– Blurred

– sensitive to light

More watery than usual

Source: Express