How poor nutrition can threaten vision A 12-year-old boy from Massachusetts, USA, lost her vision he lost because he was eating only junk food that deprived his body of essential nutrients.
The incident was described, a few weeks ago, in the prestigious medical journal “The New England Journal of Medicine” by scientists from Harvard University and the Department of Ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital in Boston. As they explain, the boy suffers from autism and has an extreme phobia of certain food textures. Thus, his diet consists exclusively of hamburgers, fries, donuts and juices of trade.
Earlier this year he started complaining that he couldn’t see well. As he reported, it was all “dark” in the morning and evening, but he could see well during the day. But within six weeks, he could no longer walk without leaning on his parents or the walls, and eventually at one point he said he couldn’t see anything.
Doctors report that the lack of essential nutrients resulted in damage to his optic nerve. Although he began intensive treatment with nutritional supplements, they fear that the damage is irreversible.
Incidents like this seem impossible, especially in advanced nations with abundant food. However, they happen. And although this particular one is extreme, many people have reduced vision because they are not fed enough and/or properly.
“Nutrition is critical to eye health. Ingredients such as vitamins A, B1, B12, C, D and E, zinc and folic acid are necessary for their smooth development and operation. Instead, their deficiencies can have serious ophthalmological consequences, ranging from nyctalopia (the sufferer does not see well at night) and corneal ulcers to age-related macular degeneration and waterfall“, says Dr. Anastasios-I. Kanellopoulos, MD, Surgeon – Ophthalmologist, founder and scientific director of the LaserVision Ophthalmology Institute, professor of Ophthalmology at New York University.
The risks to vision concern young and old, as evidenced by the case of a 14-year-old British man from Bristol who lost his sight a few years ago due to poor nutrition. As his doctors had reported in the medical journal “Annals of Internal Medicine”, he initially complained of constant fatigueattributed to anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency. Within a year, however, he presented hearing and vision loss.
This unfortunately happened before doctors could find the cause of his symptoms, as he was of a normal body weight and had no obvious signs of malnutrition.
But as they later found out this boy had many whims in food. For years he was fed only potato chips, french fries, white bread and processed pork products. The consequence was to develop vitamin B12 deficiency, low levels of vitamin D, copper and selenium, high zinc levels and severe optic neuropathy. He also experienced bone loss.
“Incidents like this prove that a person can lose his sight not only from something he consumed (eg from something toxic as sometimes happens with adulterated drinks), but also from what he does not eat. Nutrient deficiencies are common in developing countries, but also in those facing poverty. They may also develop in certain groups of the population, such as in patients who are malnourished for medical reasons (e.g. patients with chronic alcoholism), in strict vegetarians, in patients undergoing certain surgical operations, in those suffering from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, etc., says Mr. Kanellopoulos.
It is estimated that at least 2 billion people around the world are deficient in essential nutrients. They account for almost a quarter of the world’s population.
For to keep the eyes healthy and to preserve vision, it is necessary to eat essential foods that contain valuable nutrients, states the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). These are:
Dark green vegetables: Spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, broccoli, Swiss chard etc. they are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidant carotenoids that protect against age-related macular degeneration.
Citrus fruits: Oranges, tangerines, kiwis, lemons contain vitamin C. So do many other fruits and vegetables, such as peaches, red peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, broccoli, etc. This vitamin is necessary for the health of the blood vessels of the eyes and protection from cataracts.
Orange colored fruits and vegetables: It is rich in beta-carotene, a natural carotenoid that is converted into vitamin A in the body. Its rich sources are carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, melons, etc. Vitamin A is essential for the health of two key eye structures: the cornea and the retina, which is located at the back of the eyes.
Beans: All kinds of beans, from black-eyed to giant, contain zinc, an essential trace element. Other good sources are oysters, lean red meat, poultry, fortified cereals. Zinc is essential for the health of the retina of the eyes and the transmission of visual messages to the brain.
Fish: Salmon, tuna, sardines, etc. fatty (fatty) fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which protect against dry eyes and glaucoma. They also contain vitamin D which is essential for the health of the iris of the eyes and protection against macular degeneration.
“Although nutrition is recognized as one of the pillars of good health, there is insufficient awareness of its importance in maintaining the integrity of eye tissues, visual acuity and preventing eye diseases. However, nutrient deficiency or following an unbalanced diet can have serious effects on the eyes, reaching the point of threatening vision. This is something that the general public should know in order to protect themselves”, concludes Mr. Kanellopoulos.