Eye HealthLifestyle Topics
Water & Contacts Don’t Mix
To help prevent eye infections, contact lenses should be removed before going swimming or in a hot tub.
Jumping a Battery
Take precautions to prevent eye injury. Never lean over the battery and always wear safety goggles.
Eye Protection Works
Wearing the proper protective eyewear for sports and other activities can help prevent 90% of eye injuries.
It's Not OK to Skip a Day
To control glaucoma, take eye drops exactly as prescribed by your ophthalmologist—your sight depends on it.
Give your Eyes a Break
To prevent computer eyestrain, follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
What Is an Ophthalmologist?
Are You Fit at 40?
A baseline eye exam is recommended at age 40, when the signs of disease and changes in vision may start to occur.
Eat Right to Delay AMD
Healthy eating habits may delay age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although there is no cure for AMD, recent studies show that eating certain foods may reduce the risk of AMD, or slow its progression in some people.
So, what type of foods should you eat?
- Most fruits and vegetables contain Vitamin C, including oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, papaya, green peppers and tomatoes.
- Vitamin E can be found in vegetable oils (safflower and corn oil), almonds, pecans, wheat germ and sunflower seeds.
- For beta-carotene, try deep orange or yellow fruits and vegetables such as cantaloupe, mangos, apricots, peaches, sweet potatoes and carrots.
- Dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, collard greens, broccoli, and asparagus are the primary sources of lutein and zeaxanthin.
- Good sources of zinc include beef, pork, lamb, oysters, eggs, shellfish, milk, peanuts, whole grains and wheat germ.
- Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are leafy green vegetables, nuts, fish, and vegetable oils such as canola, soy, and especially flaxseed.
Luscious Grapefruit Meringue
"Making a choice to get healthier with your eating choices can have such a huge affect on every aspect of your life. My sister has cataracts and macular issues. The state of her eyes affects everything. Learning that something as simple and wonderful as cooking healthy food can actually help is truly empowering."
– Chef Janette Barber
- 3 egg whites
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup confectionary sugar
- 2 large pink grapefruits, halved, sections pre-cut for easier eating
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the egg whites with the vanilla cream of tartar and the salt until foamy. Gradually add the confectionary sugar and continue beating until the mixture is shiny and forms stiff peaks. Cover the surface of the each grapefruit half completely with generous gobs of meringue and bake for 15 or 20 minutes until lightly browned. Serve immediately.
Yield: 4 Servings