A doctor has spoken about the impact of nutrition on eye health

You should not neglect your eyesight, especially in the digital age, when everyone puts it under great strain and spends many hours at a computer monitor and in front of a phone screen. Inna Varivoda, an ophthalmologist at INVITRO North-West, told Izvestia how nutrition can support eye health and how to protect them.

"Good eyesight starts from the plate. Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc and vitamins A, C and E can help prevent problems such as yellow spot degeneration, cataracts, twilight vision and light perception disorders," Varivoda explained.

In addition, a balanced diet helps maintain a healthy weight and reduces the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults, she elaborated. According to her, bad habits such as smoking increase the likelihood of developing cataracts, optic nerve damage and many other health problems.

"If you have already tried to get rid of a bad habit but started smoking again, don't give up. The more times you try to quit, the higher the probability of success," the expert believes.

The doctor noted that properly selected glasses-photoprotectors will help protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays, excessive exposure to which harms the cornea. It is important to choose glasses that block 99 to 100% of UVA and UVB rays, and when choosing lenses should be guided by your needs. Circular lenses will help protect your eyes from the side, while polarized lenses will reduce glare while driving. If you need glasses that correct vision, it is worth choosing a "chameleon" model with sun protection.

As the expert pointed out, long viewing of the screen of gadgets can lead to eye strain, a problem with focusing on the distance, "dry eye" syndrome, as well as pain in the head, back and shoulder girdle.

To avoid negative consequences, the doctor recommended to buy glasses for working at the computer, try to avoid glare from windows and light source, use anti-glare screen if necessary, place the computer screen so that the eyes are at the same level with the top of the monitor and do not forget to take breaks every 20 minutes.

"Systematic eye examinations should be done once a year, if there are no complaints, and at least twice a year, if vision deteriorates, especially for young children and schoolchildren, to monitor the development of their visual apparatus," summarized Varivoda.

Earlier, on November 20, ophthalmologist, ophthalmic surgeon of JSC "Medicine" (clinic of Academician Roitberg) Irakli Behoroshvili told "Izvestia" about the symptoms of astigmatism. Astigmatism symptoms can include blurred or distorted vision at different distances, difficulty focusing, and headaches, especially after long periods of reading or working on the computer. Many people also notice that their eyes tire much faster than normal, the specialist noted.