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EYE CARE AND SAN ANTONIO
QUALITY OF LIFE MEDICINE

36 Fabulous Foods to Boost Eye Health

(This article originally appeared on the American Academy of Ophthalmology® website. Published April 07, 2023. By Celia Vimont;
Reviewed by Brenda Pagan-Duran, MD; Edited by David Turbert)

f you’re looking for a diet that’s healthy for your eyes, here’s some Leafy green vegetables rich in lutein and zeaxanthin
good news: The same diet that helps your heart and the rest of your Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants found in the pigments of
Ibody will help your eyes. Plus, you’ll enjoy many delicious choices. leafy green vegetables and other brightly colored foods. They are key to
Here are 26 vision-healthy foods and ideas for a diet rich in fruits, protecting the macula, the area of the eye that gives us our central, most
vegetables, beans and fish. detailed vision. Kale and spinach have plenty of these nutrients. Other
foods with useful amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin include romaine
Why Is Nutrition Important for Good Vision? lettuce, collards, turnip greens, broccoli and peas. And while not leafy
and green, eggs also are a good source of these nutrients.
“Some nutrients keep the eye healthy overall, and some have been
found to reduce the risk of eye diseases,” said Rebecca J. Taylor, MD, an Beans and zinc
ophthalmologist in Nashville, Tennessee. Eating a diet low in fat and The mineral zinc helps keep the retina healthy and may protect How Does the Labor Shortage
rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help not only your heart your eyes from the damaging effects of light. However, zinc can lower
but also your eyes. This isn’t surprising: Your eyes rely on tiny arteries the amount of copper in your body, which we need to help form red
for oxygen and nutrients, just as the heart relies on much larger arter- blood cells. Fortunately, you can increase both at once with all kinds Impact Value-Based Care?
ies. Keeping those arteries healthy will help your eyes. of beans (legumes), including black-eyed peas, kidney beans and lima
beans. Other foods high in zinc include oysters, lean red meat, poul- By Reshma Beharry, DHA
What Should I Focus On for Eye-Healthy Eating? try and fortified cereals.

Orange-colored vegetables and fruits with vitamin A Should I Get Eye-Healthy Nutrients Through Vitamin Sup- How does your organization align with the value-based model for of volume that comes with a value-based system. Payers will recognize
Perhaps the best-known eye-healthy nutrient is vitamin A. Your ret- plements? the future in the midst of the labor crisis? Value-Based Care (VBC) is that a particular hospital is a top performer, and it will be included in
ina needs plenty of vitamin A to help turn light rays into the images a healthcare delivery model under which providers — hospitals, labs, their networks. The benefits from the EMR applications once imple-
we see. Also, without enough vitamin A, your eyes can’t stay moist Eating the right food is the best way to get eye-healthy nutrients, doctors, nurses and others — are paid based on the health outcomes mented successfully will be tremendous once it is being fully utilized.
enough to prevent dry eye. Carrots are a well-known source of vitamin Dr. Taylor said. “In general, most Americans can and should get of their patients and the quality of services rendered. Through financial Shifting focus from volume to value is a central challenge. The
A. Sweet potatoes provide even more vitamin A, Dr. Taylor said. “A enough nutrients through their diet without needing to take supple- incentives and other methods, value-based care programs aim to hold advancements in technology and electronic medical records can
sweet potato has more than 200 percent of the daily dose of vitamin ments.” providers more accountable for improving patient outcomes while also have significant advantages such as reducing medical errors, eliminat-
A doctors recommend.” Fruits, including cantaloupe and apricots, can giving them greater flexibility to deliver the right care at the right time. ing unnecessary and repetitive procedures, and organizing medical
be a good source of vitamin A. People who have macular degeneration are an exception. “In this The transitioning from a volume-based to a value-based model can have records. If the quality of care is continuously being improved, then the
case, taking supplements is recommended by the Age Related Eye Dis- many limitations as well as benefits. Once executed successfully, there patient’s outcomes are being improved, financial status is improved,
Fruits and veggies rich in Vitamin C ease Study 2, a follow-up to the AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease) are many benefits to be derived from the transition from volume-based the number of readmissions is drastically reduced, and the image of
Vitamin C is critical to eye health. As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps Study. Talk with your ophthalmologist if you or a family member has to value-based. However, there continues to be a major setback: labor. the healthcare organization improves. Periodically, the standards and
protect the body from damage caused by some things we eat, unhealthy AMD,” Dr. Taylor said. While staff shortages existed pre-pandemic, we are now experiencing the performance must be measured and improvements must be made
habits and environmental factors. Fried foods, tobacco smoke and the sun’s a combination of unprecedented labor pressures, a smaller pipeline of where necessary. With labor in short supply and workforce engage-
rays can produce free radicals — molecules that can damage and kill cells. No matter your age, it’s not too late to start eating healthy, she said. healthcare graduates, complicated care reforms and an aging population ment suffering, automation of tasks can reduce administrative burdens
Vitamin C helps repair and grow new tissue cells. Good sources of vitamin “So many of my patients focus on a healthy diet only after they’ve been — propelling the industry into an ongoing crisis. There are also key ele- to help clinicians focus on care. Organizations must deploy technology
C include citrus fruits, such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruit and lem- diagnosed with a serious health problem. Start eating well now to ben- ments such as burnout and depression within the healthcare workforce. that works for clinicians — not against them — to enhance engage-
ons. Lots of other foods offer vitamin C, including peaches, red bell efit your vision and your health for the rest of your life.” At the heart of the VBC models is a robust, team-oriented ment and provide resources to ease their workload. Improvements in
peppers, tomatoes and strawberries. Antioxidants can prevent or at least approach, often led by the patient’s PCP. Patients are not left to nav- care coordination, quality and patient satisfaction must be ongoing.
delay age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts, according igate the healthcare system on their own. The multidisciplinary care There will always be some changes in any healthcare organization
to the Age-Related Eye Diseases Study (AREDS). team may include case managers, mental health specialists, social work- since the healthcare industry is dynamic and is constantly changing. A
ers, pharmacists, dieticians, educators, psychologists, health coaches, continuous-improvement goal-setting process based on lean principles
Vitamin E administrators and others. While not all team members provide direct should help healthcare organizations achieve higher levels of satisfac-
Another important antioxidant is vitamin E, which helps keep cells medical care, they work together with the patient and caregivers to tion and productivity.
healthy. Vitamin E can be found in avocados, almonds and sunflower seeds. help identify and address each patient’s healthcare needs. Teams are
expected to focus on prevention, wellness, strategies and coordination Dr. Reshma Beharry, DHA, is the Doctor of Healthcare
Cold-water fish with omega-3 fatty acids throughout the care continuum — priorities especially important for Administration at Healthcare Administrative Consultants, with
Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids from cold-water fish may help those managing chronic conditions. over 15 years of experience in healthcare, clinical operations and
reduce the risk of developing eye disease later in life, research suggests. The benefits of VBC include improving operating costs to deliv- finance. She received her DHA from Walden University, and her
These fish include salmon, tuna, sardines, halibut and trout. “Ome- er care more efficiently and effectively. As hospitals eliminate waste, published doctoral research is on “Antibiotics and the Quality of Life for
ga-3’s are good for tear function, so eating fish may help people with improve quality and reduce costs, they will increase patient volume. People Over 65 years.” Dr. Beharry is a member of the ACHE and the
dry eye,” Dr. Taylor said. Attracting a high volume of patients is the key to counterbalancing loss Bexar County Medical Society.

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