What are the worst foods for eye health? Avoid these 5!

• February 22, 2024

Vision is undeniably one of our most precious senses, allowing us to enjoy the world's beauty. But amidst the hustle of daily life, we overlook the importance of caring for our eyes. 

There are countless tasks that we rely on our eyesight from reading to driving to appreciating the beauty around us and looking at our loved ones. So it becomes our foremost duty to regularly take care of our eyes and we can achieve it by eating the right food and avoiding the food that is worst for our eye health.

Vision is a gift safeguard it by avoiding food that is worst for your eyes

So, in this journey together, we will learn about the foods that are the worst for our eyes and why we should avoid them. By making good food choices, we can protect our eyes and keep them sparkling bright for all the adventures ahead.

10 worst foods for eye health 

1. Processed food 

Processed foods like chips and fast food have lots of salt and bad fats, which can increase your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This can hurt the tiny blood vessels in your eyes and cause eye problems like glaucoma and macular degeneration, which can make you lose vision when you're older.

2. Sugary drinks 

Eye specialists say sugary drinks such as sodas and sweetened coffees have too much sugar. Drinking these often can make your blood sugar levels rise too much over time. This can damage the small blood vessels in your eyes and cause diabetic retinopathy, making your vision blurry and even leading to blindness if you don't treat it.

3. Fried foods 

Trans fats found in foods like margarine and fried foods can cause inflammation and harm the blood vessels in your eyes. This can speed up macular degeneration, which hurts the central vision. Also, inflammation can make dry eye syndrome worse, making your eyes feel dry and uncomfortable.

4. White bread

White bread and other refined carbs can make your blood sugar levels spike, leading to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which can make you lose a lot of vision as you get older. Eating whole-grain foods instead can help lower this risk.

5. Drinking alcohol 

Drinking too much alcohol can lead to not getting enough important nutrients for your eyes, like vitamin A and zinc. These are needed to keep your cornea healthy and help your eyes see in the dark. Without enough of them, you could have the following troubles.

Dry eye syndrome

Dry eye syndrome happens when your eyes don't have enough moisture, making them feel uncomfortable and irritated. Drinking alcohol can make this worse because it makes your body lose water, including the tears that keep your eyes moist.

When you drink alcohol, it makes you pee more, which can leave your body dehydrated. This means there's less fluid in your tears, making them less able to keep your eyes moist.

Also, drinking too much can harm the cells that make tears, making it harder for your eyes to stay lubricated.

Red eye

Another problem with drinking alcohol is that it can make your eyes look red. This is because alcohol makes your blood vessels expand, including the ones in your eyes.

This makes the whites of your eyes look pink or red. Also, alcohol can dry out your eyes, which can make the blood vessels in your eyes irritated and red.

Blurry vision 

Alcohol can also mess with your vision, making it hard to see clearly. It slows down how your brain processes what you see, making it harder to focus on things, especially in dim light.

Lastly, drinking too much alcohol can weaken your immune system, making it easier for your eyes to get infected. This can cause problems like pink eye, corneal ulcers, and keratitis, which can make your eyes hurt and your vision blurry.

6. Processed meat

Processed meats like sausages and hot dogs are high in salt and unhealthy fats. Eating them a lot can make your blood pressure go up, which can damage the small blood vessels in your eyes. This might cause problems with your vision.

7. Artificial sweetener

Artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, can cause blurry vision and eye pain in some people. They're often used in diet foods and drinks, but they might not be good for your eyes.

8. Saturated fats rich food 

Foods high in saturated fats, like red meat and full-fat dairy, can build up plaque in your arteries. This can stop blood from getting to your eyes properly, which might lead to vision loss. Overeating these foods can also make you more likely to get diabetes, which can hurt your eyes.

9. Junk food 

Junk foods like cookies and candy can make you gain weight and aren't good for your eyes. They don't have important vitamins and minerals your eyes need, and they can make your blood sugar levels go up, which could cause eye problems in the long run.

10. Unsaturated fats 

Too much unsaturated fats, found in things like vegetable oils and mayo, can make dry eye syndrome worse. This can make your eyes feel dry and uncomfortable and might affect your vision.

Conclusion 

Eating healthy foods like leafy greens, berries, and fish can help protect your eyes from infections and keep your eyes healthy. But it's just as important to avoid foods that can harm your eyes, like the ones listed above.

By making smart food choices along with regular eye check-ups, you can keep your eyes healthy. On this journey of keeping your eyes healthy, the expert doctors of God Service Eye Clinic are available for you 24/7. You can book your appointment by calling our helpline number.