Cataract Prevention in the Produce Aisle!

 

Did you know that regularly enjoying a piece of fruit and a side of vegetables can help prevent vision loss from cataracts? Many Americans don’t eat enough fresh vegetables and fruits. Most of us know that these foods are important for avoiding heart disease, stroke and cancer but don’t associate diet with cataract prevention. Studies from the United States, Japan and Sweden show that a diet rich in foods with substances called antioxidants may reduce your risk of developing cataracts. Antioxidants protect our cells from damage caused by molecules called free radicals. That damage is called oxidation. Free radicals in our bodies may come from:

• the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays,
• tobacco smoke,
• pollution, and
• the body’s normal process of using energy.

Oxidation can lead to cataracts by causing changes to fats and proteins in the eye’s lens, making the lens cloudy. Antioxidants help slow down or prevent free radical damage. Antioxidants include vitamins C and E, certain substances in plants called flavonoids, and some minerals like selenium.

While you can take antioxidant supplements in the form of daily pills or capsules, these beneficial vitamins and minerals are best when they come from a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Loading up in the produce aisle and on your plate with fresh veggies and delicious fruits, knowing you are doing your eyes a favor!

A daily diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help prevent cataract formation. If you or someone you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants please schedule an eye exam at Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates offices are conveniently located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.          

Nine Signs Children May Need an Eye Exam

 

Back-to-school shopping lists might include school supplies, new clothes, and even a haircut, but does it include an eye exam? It really should! Comprehensive eye exams can detect a variety of eye conditions that, left untreated in a child, could result in partial or complete loss of vision later in life. Common conditions include astigmatism and nearsightedness. Conditions such as amblyopia can cause serious problems if not addressed early in life. A screening at a pediatrician’s office is a great way to get referred for a vision or eye problem suspected in a child, but even a screening can miss eye problems that would be found during a full dilated eye exam. Here are nine signs children may need an eye exam:

·       Complaining of headaches: When children overly strain their eyes to focus, this causes headaches over extended periods of time

·       Becoming fatigued after reading: Eye fatigue is when eyes are burning, itching, or tired. It might be difficult to notice these symptoms in a child, but if a child is falling behind in reading comprehension or shies away from reading activities, this might be the culprit

·       Poor sports performance: If a child’s visual processing seems slower than it should, this might be a sign there is a vision issue at play. A child with an untreated vision problem might perform poorly in sports due to clumsiness, poor hand-eye coordination, inability to focus or skewed depth perception

·       Squinting or closing one eye: Squinting does not damage eyes, but it might be a sign that a child needs glasses. By squinting, a child is subconsciously attempting to make the pupil smaller, therefore letting in less light. This technique enhances a child’s focus that might be potentially blurry

·       Blinking or rubbing eyes: If a child rubs his/her eyes while trying to concentrate on an activity, particularly reading, or while being active, it could mean the child has a vision problem

·       Poor reading ability and comprehension: Good vision is essential for students of all ages to reach their full academic potential. If a child seems disinterested in reading, is sidetracked easily, does not understand material read, or reads the same sentence multiple times, it might be time to schedule an eye exam

·       Poor school performance: It is important for parents to remember that children do not have a concept of poor vision, so they might not always tell you when they cannot read something their teacher writes on the blackboard. As a result, his/her grades can suffer

·       Holding electronic devices or books too close to eyes: It is a myth that sitting too close to electronic devices can hurt your eyes, but if a child is sitting too close to the TV or holding a book too close to his/her face, it might be a sign of a vision problem. Leaning closely in to read text or see images on the television might often mean a child is living with nearsightedness

·       Loss of place while reading: Using a finger to track the words can be typical behavior for a child who is learning to read, but pay attention to this behavior. He or she should eventually be able to focus on the words without losing place

If you or someone you know has a child who might have an eye problem please schedule an eye exam at Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates offices are conveniently located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.