The body is a machine, and it has many different moving parts that work together. For example, the organs are supplied with blood and keep the body functioning; bones give the body structure; muscles keep the body moving. Through all of this, the body needs energy, which comes in the form of food. Sadly, some foods are better than others when it comes to eyesight. These five foods are ruining your eye health.
Bread and Pasta
One of the worst foods for your eyes is bread and pasta. These foods contain many simple carbohydrates that can quickly spike your blood sugar levels. This spike makes you feel hungry sooner, and these foods also lack many nutrients, so you end up eating more and receiving little to no benefits. These foods can lead to diabetes and high blood pressure, and they have also been linked with higher chances of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD contributes to vision loss in older patients.
Fatty Meats
Another food that hurts your eyes is fatty red meats. These can seem healthy, but they are full of salt, fat, and cholesterol, leading to high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause various issues such as neuropathy, choroidopathy, and hypertensive retinopathy. All of these contribute to blurred vision and vision loss if they go untreated.
Soda and Juice
Soda and juice are full of sugar, and this sugar doesn’t do your body any good. This increased sugar can cause weight gain and increase your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. These conditions are not good for your body and can even transition into you developing AMD and diabetic retinopathy, where the blood vessels in your retina become damaged.
Alcohol
Alcohol is another drink that you should avoid, or at least consume in moderation. The National Library of Medicine has investigated alcohol consumption and concluded that heavy drinking increases the risk of cataracts or the clouding of your eye. There are other issues associated with heavy alcohol consumption, and this is just one of them.
Caffeine
Coffee and other caffeinated beverages can also be harmful if consumed in large quantities. This caffeine can raise your intraocular pressure (IOP), otherwise known as the pressure inside your eye. People should avoid this, especially those with glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT). When their IOP goes too high, they can suffer vision loss.
These five foods are ruining your eye health, but thankfully the field of optometry and ophthalmology is stronger than ever. Offices all around the country are diagnosing and treating various eye conditions and recommending the proper habits for patients so their eyes can remain healthy. If you are an office looking for disposable tonometer tips, don’t hesitate to look at Automated Ophthalmics, as we have various options for you to choose from.