Beautiful, Bright Eyes

By Veronica A. Stevens, ND, FABNO

A primary goal of naturopathic medicine is prevention through education, lifestyle changes, and behavior modification. Since April is Women's Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month, now is the perfect time to discuss ways to maintain the health of your beautiful, bright eyes.

Why is this important? The Prevent Blindness Association states that women are more likely than men to experience serious eye health conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and cataracts. In addition, the spring and summer months bring more exposure to eye irritants.

Awareness is key to avoiding increased exposure to the following common eye irritants

Increased pollution from hot and humid days

Smoke from outdoor grilling or barbecuing

Bright lights from home fireworks

Increased sunlight exposure from longer summer days

Chlorine in swimming pools

Long periods in front of computer screens without breaks

Eye strain and fatigue from lack of sleep

How do you know if your eyes are irritated? Symptoms include pinkness of the conjunctiva (the tissue covering the surface of the eye and lining the eyelids); swollen, red eyelids, increased tearing or thick, crusty discharges; light sensitivity; swelling around the eyes; itching, dry eyes; and eye pain. The good news is that acute eye irritation is usually self-limiting once the irritant is removed and does not involve changes in vision.

What can you do to protect your eyes? Fortunately, caring for your eyes requires minor behavior modifications

Have safety glasses to use when cooking on an open flame

Wear sunglasses to protect eyes from the sun and bright lights

Put on water-proof goggles before jumping in the pool

Take breaks from screen time this includes computers and phones

Applying soothing topical botanical eye compresses made from Eyebright (Euphrasia) and Calendula which promote healing and calm irritation and inflammation of the eyes

What about more serious eye conditions? It is important for women to be aware of the vision changes associated with macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts since these conditions are 60% more likely to develop in women than in men.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in elderly Americans. The vision loss is painless, and individuals experience dark areas in the center of their visual fields and distortion of straight lines. Smoking cessation may reduce risk of developing macular degeneration. Carotenoid antioxidants found in leafy green vegetables such as spinach, collard greens, and kale have properties that protect the retina.

Glaucoma is increased pressure in the eyeball. Symptoms included reduced peripheral vision, blurred vision, blind spots, and seeing halos around lights. Increased protein intake and food sensitivities are associated with the development of glaucoma.

Cataracts is cloudiness of the eye lens caused by oxidative protein damage. Symptoms of cataracts are blurred vision, poor tolerance of bright lights, poor night vision, and decreased color perception. Consuming fewer than four servings of fruit and vegetable daily increases the risk of developing cataracts.

Observe Women's Eye Health and Safety Month by committing to protect the health of your beautiful, bright eyes. Make April the month to have your dilated eye exam with your eye health professional, refresh your eye make-up applicators, and purchase new mascara and eyeliner. Also, purchase protective eyewear in preparation for summertime activities, take breaks from screen time, and load up on antioxidant rich summer fruits and vegetables.