Eat your carotenoids!

“A healthy diet is an important part of keeping your vision in good shape,” says Sara Jubb. “Make sure yours is rich in foods that help to protect your eyes such as tomatoes, peppers, berries and all red, yellow and dark green vegetables. They are packed with carotenoids – fat-soluble red, orange and yellow pigments such as betacarotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. These phytochemicals help to increase the density of the macular pigment in your eyes. They have beneficial antioxidant properties and can help to protect your retina from damage, too. “Omega-3 fatty acids also help to keep your retina in good shape – research suggests that eating oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines at least once a week could cut your risk of AMD in half. If you’re not a fish fan, perhaps take a high-quality fish-oil supplement instead. “Another useful supplement is Ginkgo biloba. It’s a powerful antioxidant which works by improving blood flow to your cells and it’s thought to help to prevent degenerative problems in the eye.”