It is no more in doubt that more Nigerians are increasingly developing serious eye problems. A cursory survey of some of the eye clinics around showed that due to a lot of issues associated with the type of diet people eat and the way they also handle the use of their eyes, cases of eye problems are on the rise at the moment.
But it is instructive to note that since the eye is a very sensitive part of the body, it must be handled with absolute care and caution. In an interview with The Nation, an Ophthalmologist Dr. Emmanuel Aruona of the Pearl Eye Clinic, Ikorodu, Lagos, explained that since vision is unarguably the most important sense of the body it has to be constantly protected and preserved. “Yes, the eyes must be protected always from the hazards of the weather. It is obvious that as people grow older, they indeed become more susceptible to certain eye diseases”.
Although there are few cases of people whose eye problems run in their genes, the commonest sources of eye diseases result due to the poor handling of eye related matters. Aruona said: “mainly glaucoma, cataracts, age related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy as well as dry eye syndrome often militate against most people. As an antidote to save the eye, however, it is medically advisable to stick to certain foods in order to preserve the eyes. Where the eyes have already gone bad or are in the process of doing so, these diets are necessary to maintain the eyes and probably restore them back to life”, he said.
VITAMINS
According to Aruona, Vitamin A helps to protect the eye against night blindness and dry eye syndrome. In order therefore to get a good dose of vitamin A, one has to resort to beef or chicken liver, eggs, butter, milk, kale, spinach, lettuce, carrot, red pepper, sweet potatoes. Other are cod liver oil, mangoes, peas, tomatoes and more. To obtain sources of Vitamin C, people are advised to eat the following as often as possible in order to reduce or eliminate incidences of the contraction of cataracts or macular degeneration. They are: Sweet peppers (red or green), kale, citrus, (oranges, lime, tangerine, grape fruit) and the berries. The berry families include strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and more, broccoli, cantaloupe, garlic and others.
To have enough Vitamin D which equally aids the reduction of macular degeneration, it is necessary to eat salmon, sardines, mackerel, and milk. Also Vitamin E obtained from the following sources almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, avocado, cereal and so on can be used to checkmate advanced AMD as well as cataracts.
“There is also the Beta carotene which serves as an antioxidant to the eyes”. Aruona further explained that “when taken in combination with zinc and vitamins C and E, beta carotene may, of course, reduce the progression of macular degeneration. In order to guide against such situation, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, butternut squash and so on can be eaten in good quantum. Also regular intakes of tea, red wine, citrus fruits, bilberries, blueberries, cherries, legumes and soy products, help to keep cataracts and macular degeneration at bar”.
To totally control or prevent the development of dry eyes syndrome which is equally a serious eye problem it is proper to make use of Omega -3 Fatty Acids. Food sources include: Cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring. Others are tuna, sardine, flaxseeds and walnuts. Other sources of foods to stem eye diseases whether for old age or otherwise are: Shrimps, crab, enriched noodles, brown rice and more. These assist in the reduction of AMD.
On the other hand, sources from Zinc which mainly come from vitamin A help to reduce the risk of night blindness. This is why Aruona advised people to eat oysters, crab, turkey and dark meat more often. In all, these fruits are available and are often in season. It is therefore proper for people to take their time to make these numerous fruits and minerals part of their daily habit so as to help the eyes and other parts of the body to function well. Fruits are meant to be an integral part of people’s daily menus, because they constitute the bulk of components to make not only the eyes but the whole body healthy and strong.
CARING FOR THE EYES
•Do a regular eye examination: Children should have a complete eye examination before starting kindergarten, and biannually throughout the school years to ensure optimal eye health. When you hit 40 years of age, you must get your eyes examined at least once every year.
•Avoid smoking to decrease risk: Smoking increases your risk of glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
•Eat healthy and exercise constantly: Eating balanced meals full of vitamins A, C, E, OMEGA 3 fatty acids and beta-carotene each day will help to keep your eyes healthy. Exercise can improve your overall health and reduce your risk of developing problems such as diabetes that increase your risk of eye disease.
•Protect your eyes from the sun. Ultraviolet rays are linked to macular degeneration and cataracts.
•Avoid applying unprescribed eye-drops to the eyes as well as harmful substances such as breast milk, urine, salt and sugar solution, onions etc.
•Avoid prolonged exposure to computer as the rays of light can be harmful. It can also cause dry eye.
•Avoid reading under dim illumination because it makes you strain your eyes and make them get tired easily.
•When foreign object gets into the eyes, first thing to be done is to flush with running water rather than rubbing. If flushing does not stop it then see an eye care practitioner (ophthalmologist or optometrist).
•Avoid sharing eye-drops, eyeliners, mascaras because you may just end up sharing bacteria.
