Consume curly kale and munch on melon for perfect peepers
We’re constantly being told to eat our greens but now eye specialists are urging us to feast on plenty of fruit and green veg to act as natural sunglasses and protect our eyes from the dangers of the sun.
Keith Davey, Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Yorkshire Eye Hospital is also a former optician. He warns: “Many are unaware of just how much their eyesight can be damaged through exposure to the sunlight which can contribute to cataracts, cornea damage and macular degeneration.
Having regular eye tests is crucial, but generally protecting your eyes from sunlight and eating the right foods to help protect your eyes in the sun can really help too and there are also lots of other things you can do to keep your eyes in tip top shape.
“Rapidly growing evidence indicates that eating certain foods can be beneficial and there are indications that nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin can act like natural sunglasses, filtering out harmful blue light to stop it damaging the back of the retina. These nutrients are deposited in the eyes and act as antioxidants, neutralising the free radicals which can cause cell damage. Lutein and zeaxanthin are very easy to come by and found in a lot of everyday foods, usually dark-coloured vegetables including spinach, sprouts and courgettes and fruits including melon, prunes, oranges and peaches. They should be eaten slightly cooked rather than raw, making it easier for the body to absorb.”
Specialists from the Yorkshire Eye Hospital offer the following top tips to avoid damage to the eyes from UV light:
- stay out of the direct sun as much as possible, wear a brimmed hat or a cap and wear good quality sunglasses with the CE British Standards mark BSEN 1836:1997.
- sunglasses sold under BS 2724 have a shade number which relates to the amount of UV light allowed through. The higher the number the better.
- sunglasses should block out 75-90% of visible light and 99-100% of UV rays.
- wraparound styles are effective as they prevent light from getting behind your sunglasses and into your eyes.
- neutral grey or brown lenses are good as they have less effect on the way we see colours, some pink or blue tints can distort colours and are not recommended for driving.
- Photochromic lenses that automatically go darker in the sun are also very good.
The Yorkshire Eye Hospital at Apperley Bridge treats patients from across the region, suffering from a wide range of eye complaints from young children with mild eye conditions through to older people suffering from cataracts.
