Most people think that losing their eyesight is all part of growing older. However, by leading a healthier lifestyle and eating veggies and fruits that help with eye pain and improve eye health, you can reduce the risk of eye health problems significantly. Certain foods that contain important nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, and copper, and zinc, can help to reduce eye pain and boost your overall eye health. These fruits and veggies can help to reduce the pain associated with common eye disorders such as dry eyes, and red eyes. There are also fruits and veggies you can eat daily that can reduce your risk of developing certain age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Painful conditions such as glaucoma must be managed by medication in the later stages, but including certain veggies and fruits in your diet can help to minimize the amount of pressure felt in the eyes.
Fruit that helps with eye pain include those that are high in vitamins A, C, and E, and fruits that contain important antioxidants that can help to reduce the painful pressure in the eyes caused by glaucoma. For improved eye health, increase your daily intake of the following fruits:
- Strawberries
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Grapefruits
- Blueberries
There are also many veggies that can help boost your overall eye health. These veggies include:
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Spinach
- Kale
- Broccoli
A well-balanced diet of fresh fruits and veggies can set you on the path to improved vision, reduced pain, and a reduced risk of age-related eye conditions.
Table of Contents
Start By Maintaining Eye Health
Following a healthy diet will play a major role in eye health and can even help to reduce your risks of developing painful eye conditions in the future. Research has shown that serious eye conditions can be avoided altogether by including fruits and veggies that contain a wide range of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. Some eye conditions that you may be able to prevent by making dietary changes include:
- Dry eye syndrome
- Chronic red eyes
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Age-related macular degeneration
The following vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can help to fight oxidants that can impact your eye health in negative ways:
- Beta-carotene
- Zeaxanthin
- Lutein
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Zinc
- Omega three fatty acids
- Beta-carotene
When following a balanced diet that’s loaded in fresh fruits, veggies, and lean protein sources, make sure you limit the consumption of unhealthy processed foods and foods that are high in sugar or contain saturated fats.
Vitamin C and Eye Health
Studies have provided evidence that shows a high daily intake of vitamin C can reduce the risk of developing cataracts. Factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing cataracts including steroid use, diabetes, and smoking, all of which end up depleting the eye’s store of vitamin C. But aside from vision health in general, a high intake of this important vitamin can also slow down the progression of visual acuity loss and macular degeneration. Visual acuity loss is one of the biggest causes of blindness in the elderly.
In terms of pain, a high level of vitamin C can help to manage pain in mild cases of glaucoma since vitamin C is believed to help reduce the amount of pressure placed on the eyes, a common and painful symptom of glaucoma. Of course, in advanced cases of glaucoma, the best eye drops are required in order to successfully manage this condition and keep pain levels at a minimum.
Vitamin C also works to promote healthy capillaries and promotes the absorption of iron, both of which the cells in the eyes depend on. If you’re suffering from dry eyes, then eating fruits that are high in vitamin C are a must since it can help support blood vessel health in the eyes.
Vitamin C can also help fight off the typical signs of aging because of its critical role in the body’s natural collagen synthesis. Not only does it help heal damaged skin, but in some cases, it can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles under eyes when smiling.
Vitamin C rich foods include:
- Grapefruits
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Strawberries
Oranges and strawberries are by far the most popular fruit options that are loaded in vitamin C.
An Essential Antioxidant
Another type of fruit that can help to naturally reduce eye pain and headache and boost your overall eye health are blueberries. These berries are high in a potent antioxidant called anthocyanins. These antioxidants are able to cross the blood and retina barrier easily in order to provide essential vision protection. These antioxidants can also improve vision in people who are suffering from glaucoma. Like vitamin C, this type of antioxidant can help to reduce the painful pressure in the eyes caused by too much fluid production. Additionally, if you spend a lot of time out in the sun, it can also help to protect the retinas against painful UV damage.
Veggies for Eye Health
We all know that eating right is the best way to stay healthy. But what we consume can also impact our eye health as well. As you read earlier, fruits loaded in vitamin C and anthocyanins can help to manage eye health, but they can also help with pain reduction in people newly diagnosed with glaucoma. Fortunately, there are also several veggies you can eat daily that will also promote eye health and help to reduce chronic eye pain.
Leafy green veggies such as kale and spinach contain both zeaxanthin and lutein, two important nutrients found in healthy eyes that can help to reduce a person’s risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. One study found that people who followed a diet that was high in lutein were twenty percent less likely to develop cataracts compared to people with lower levels of this nutrient. If you can’t handle kale, there are other, less bitter leafy green options out there such as turnip greens, collard greens, romaine lettuce, and spinach. Broccoli and peas are also great sources.
Beta-Carotene and Vitamin A
Carrots are high in both beta-carotene and vitamin A. Vitamin A plays an important role in vision health and it’s a component of rhodopsin, a type of protein that helps the retinas to absorb light.
Vitamin E
Found in fruits and veggies, nuts, and fortified cereals, vitamin E plays an important role when it comes to protecting your vision. This vitamin can help to reduce your risk of age-related conditions that can impact your eyesight, but it can also play an important role in terms of improving your vision.
A high intake of vitamin E can protect the eye cells from free radicals which can break down healthy eye tissue. The best way to improve your vitamin E intake is to eat whole foods such as sweet potatoes, mustard greens, and collard greens.
Like carrots, sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene. They are also a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E.
Related Questions
Is Honey Good for Your Eyes?
Honey is a great alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners, but it can also be used for it’s wound healing and antimicrobial properties. Usually, when applied directly to the eye, honey can reduce irritation and inflammation. It can also work to eliminate harmful bacteria that can cause infections. However, if you’re dealing with a serious case of red eyes, I don’t recommend using this type of home remedy. Instead, Lumify Redness Reliever eye drops will be a more effective treatment alternative.
Is Cucumber Good for Eyes?
Cucumbers are often used for their cooling effects, but they can also give the skin a fresher, vibrant look. Cucumbers are high in both folic acid and vitamin C and also offer a high water content, which can help to plump up and hydrate the skin around the eyes. In terms of eye health, vitamin C can help to reduce your chances of age-related vision loss and the development of cataracts later in life. So yes, eating and applying cucumbers directly to the eyes can be very beneficial to your health.
What is the Fastest Way to Cure an Eye Infection?
This will depend on the type of eye infection you have. If it’s a viral infection, there’s really nothing you can do to speed up the recovery process. However, eye drops can help to minimize pain, irritation, and discomfort. If you have a bacterial eye infection, then prescribed antibiotics will be the best and fastest treatment option. Antibiotics will come in the form of ointment or eye drops. If you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn infection then your doctor may also prescribe an oral antibiotic to help fight the infection and speed up the recovery process.
Final Thoughts
Veggies and fruit that helps with eye pain can provide the eyes with the essential nutrients they need to prevent painful and uncomfortable eye conditions such as chronic red eyes, dry eye syndrome, and glaucoma. They can also help to prevent certain age-related conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. While most people fail to think about diet in terms of eye health, as you can see here, following a diet that’s loaded in fresh fruits and veggies can help to prevent conditions that can negatively impact your vision and instead can keep your eyes healthy for the foreseeable future.
