By Carleton Rivers, RD

If I asked you what types of foods would improve your eye health, what would you say?  Most people would mention carrots as an eye-healthy vegetable. But there is actually a wide variety of nutrients that play a role in reaching optimal eye health. My goal is to educate you on what foods to eat that may prevent vision damage.

Cataracts are the main cause of vision loss in America and blindness worldwide. What is a cataract? It is the clouding of the eye’s lens, which blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye. This can occur at any age and for many reasons. However, once you have cataracts, the most common way to restore vision is through surgery. Listed below are foods that have been shown to maintain optimal eye health that may also help to prevent the development of cataracts.

• Vitamin A
  • Carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, cantaloupe, apricots, red bell peppers
• Vitamin C
  • Oranges, red bell peppers, grapefruit, strawberries, collard greens, mangos, cabbage
• Vitamin E
  • Sunflower seeds, almonds, fortified cereals, hazelnuts, peanut butter, spinach, turnip greens
• Lutein and zeaxanthin
  • Asparagus, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, kiwifruit, egg yolks, corn, Romaine lettuce