Eye Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine

Our optometrist, Dr. Todd Lang, is currently the only optometrist in the United States that is board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine.

This means he is an advocate and a practitioner of a full-body approach to eye care. The tenets of lifestyle medicine are based on replacing bad behaviors and habits with positive ones. Things such as healthy eating, physical activity, managing stress, reducing adverse habits, and getting adequate sleep, can prevent, treat, and even reverse certain conditions and diseases.

Coupled with his extensive optometry background and experience, Dr. Lang is able to go above and beyond eye care to help you take control of your long-term health.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, nuts, flaxseed, and soybeans are especially beneficial for the prevention and treatment of dry eye syndrome and age-related macular degeneration.

Excess sodium and sugar in the diet have been linked to hypertension and diabetes, which can have adverse effects on the retina, so it’s best to limit your intake accordingly. There are generally more of these ingredients in food than you may think – so it is extremely important to read labels and try to steer clear of sodium, as much as possible. Use less salt on a daily basis, read the nutrition labels on canned food, and keep your daily sodium intake below 2,300 milligrams (mg) and sugar intake to a minimum.

There have been many studies done which connect regular exercise and healthy vision. In fact, it has been shown that people who exercise regularly are less likely to develop serious eye diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, as well as a number of other health problems, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

We all know the effects that sleep deprivation have on our mind and body. The symptoms come fast: yawning, lack of mental concentration, body fatigue, and more. Not surprisingly, studies indicate that sleep has a dramatic effect on our eye health too. In particular, it has been shown that there is a significant relationship between poor sleep and glaucoma.

Proper hydration is important for total body health. Drinking water hydrates the tissues and organs (including the eyes), and can also help with dry eyes. Your lifestyle, including diet, exercise level, and age will determine how much water you are required to ingest daily.