According to the website Eye Topics and an article entitled, “Keep Your Eyes Fit with Good Nutrition”, a balanced diet not only helps lower our risk for health problems such as diabetes, heart attack and stroke, but it also can help to lower the risk for certain eye problems such as cataracts and Glaucoma as well as other eye concerns. Carbohydrates that are also needed for many other systems in the body also help the eyes as well. It is important to limit the carbohydrates that have a high level of glucose and eat more foods with a lower glucose level such as: beans, peas, peanuts, apples, sourdough and rye bread, brown rice, protein enriched pasta, skim milk products, whole grain cereals, oranges, and apricots.

Protein is also important for our eyes. Protein is needed for all our muscles, organs, and glands, and it also helps to provide fluid for the tears that help keep our eyes moist. Our bodies need twenty-two amino acids to stay healthy and our body can produce some of these on its own, but we must get nine of our amino acids from the foods we eat. Some proteins are complete proteins which mean that they contain enough of an essential amino acid that our body needs. These foods include: beef, lamb, poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, and milk products. Foods such as the protein found in fruits and vegetables may not have all of the essential amino acids we may need, so it is important to eat all different kinds of proteins for good health.

Some studies have shown that anything that affects the cardiovascular system can affect our vision as well. If the blood supply to our eyes becomes blocked this may result in a sudden loss of vision People with Type Two diabetes that have poor diet and exercise habits may have diabetic retinopathy and vision loss. Other studies have shown that: fats found in French fries and many other snack foods may result in a high risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which will result in vision problems. Also, obesity has been linked to a higher risk of cataracts.