A healthy balanced diet has a role to play in maintaining good eye sight, with Vitamin A holding the key to many eye disorders. Beta carotene, which converts to Vitamin A, is found in yellow and orange-coloured fruits and vegetables such as Apricots, Mangoes, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes. It is also found in dark green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale. In the developing world, Vitamin A deficiency is the most common cause of eye-disorders in people. 

Were you told as a child to eat your carrots because they would make you see better in the dark? This is because carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which the body converts into Vitamin A. 

Here is some useful information on important nutrients your body requires to help treat and prevent these common eye disorders. 

MACULAR DEGENERATION

Caused by deterioration of part of the retina, macular degeneration is a major cause of blindness in the elderly. One of the major risk factors is prolonged exposure to bright light, and this has led to the view that damage to the retina is caused by FREE RADICALS. 

As Vitamin E and Beta Carotene are believed to protect against free radical damage, research has focused on diet and foods rich in these two nutrients. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables for Vitamin C ; pulses for Zinc ; nuts, whole grains and green vegetables for B Vitamins. Bio flavonoids that are found in the pith (inner white layer) of citrus fruits, may also help. 

CONJUNCTIVITIS

The delicate membrane covering the front of the eye can become inflamed as the result of an infection or allergy, producing the condition known as conjunctivitis or 'pink-eye'.

If redness forms a ring around the front of the eye, it may be due to a deficiency of riboflavin. Soreness and a reddening and cracking at the outer corners of the eyes may also signal a lack of Vitamin B which is found in milk and whole grains like buckwheat, quinoa, etc. 

CATARACT

This painless clouding of the lens of the eye is most common. It is believed that cataracts are caused because of oxidation occurring in the lens of the eye, and Vitamin C may help to protect against this type of damage. 

GLAUCOMA

A build-up of fluid pressure in the eye is known as Glaucoma. It is most common among people aged 40 or over and tends to run in families. Symptoms include blurred vision, a halo effect around lights and difficulty seeing in the dark. Glaucoma has been linked with a deficiency of thiamin which found in meat, fish, poultry, whole grains, pulses and nuts. It is also a deficiency of Vitamin A, abundant orange-coloured plant foods like Papaya, Carrots and Oranges. 

OTHER EYE PROBLEMS

Diabetics are more prone to a condition in which the capillaries in the retina leak fluid or break. This is a major cause of blindness. Supplements of Vitamin C have been found to have some protective effect upon the blood vessels of diabetics, so it is possible that a high intake of Vitamin C, from fresh fruit and vegetables, may be helpful. Good overall control of diabetes appears to result in fewer eye-complications.