Your ageing eyes

Your eyes work hard for you every waking minute. It is no surprise that how your eyes age will be determined by how you protect them. Eating the right foods can go along way towards ensuring that your eyes stay healthy for a lifetime.

- Terry Robson

Maintaining good eyesight throughout your life is a vital part of ageing well and is a significant factor in retaining your independence and quality of life as you age.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 13 million Australians have one or more long-term eye conditions (data from the National Health Survey).

The good news is that the World Health Organization and the Australian government estimate that between 80 and 90 per cent of vision impairment can be avoided through prevention or treatment.

A good way to understand what damages your eyes is to look at the problems that commonly occur with eyes as people age.

Eyes under strain

Not all eye-related problems trace back to your diet, but some certainly do. Ultimately, your eyes are highly metabolically active and are exposed to light as their primary function, so a lot of the problems that arise with eyes are a result of oxidation. Here are some common eye problems that can develop with ageing.

Macular degeneration: Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a major cause of blindness in older people. In both Australia and New Zealand, it affects one in seven people over the age of 50 and the incidence increases with age. The macula is a small area in the centre of the retina that is responsible for sharp, detailed central vision. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a layer of cells underneath the retina that passes oxygen, sugar and other essential nutrients up to the retina and moves waste down to the choroid. Macular degeneration occurs when this process breaks down and waste products from the retina build up underneath the RPE. As well as avoiding harmful habits such as smoking, eating foods rich in the antioxidant nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin can help prevent ARMD developing.