Do certain kinds of foods prevent or cause people to have floaters in the eye?

Daisy

San Francisco, CA

Hello Daisy! Not all factors are known as to why people contract floaters in the eye and there is no real evidence that specific types of food causes it. On the other hand, medical studies suggest that one of the main causes of floaters in the eye is complications from food allergies, diabetes and lack of certain vitamins and minerals in the body. The good thing is there are foods which have certain components which may help prevent the formation of floaters in the eye.

Bell Peppers and Kiwi Fruit

One such component is Vitamin C. There was a research that proved high doses of Vitamin C can help prevent (others claim it can even treat) floaters in the eye but this may not be effective for everyone because our bodies are different from one another. Unfortunately, the human body has no way to produce its own Vitamin C so we have to include it on our diets. Besides, it is just right to take Vitamin C in moderation because high doses of Vitamin C is extremely dangerous for the body and can lead to erosion of dental enamel, atherosclerosis, and kidney stones. We can find Vitamin C in citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons (juice and rind), capsicum peppers, broccolis, and kiwi fruit. If you’re taking food supplements, ask your doctor regarding your daily needed allowance for Vitamin C.

Pistachio Nuts and Oysters

Another food component which was said to prevent floaters in the eye is Zinc and it can be found in shellfishes and some varieties of nuts. Zinc is said to reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of vision loss in the western world by up to 25%. In some cases, untreated floaters in the eye cause more serious complications which eventually lead to blindness.

The right food intake is just a small part to prevent floaters in the eye. Proper eye care begins by taking care of your eyes physically. And to do that, check out the previous post.

Are Floaters in the eye curable? If not, how can we prevent it? Thanks

Carolyn

El Paso, TX

Back then, there are no cures for floaters in the eyes and it can only be prevented. But in today’s technology, floaters in the eye can be removed thru surgery. But surgery will only be performed by doctors if it’s a really serious case of eye floater. The reason behind this are the connected risks when performing an eye surgery.

The number one cause of floaters in the eye is aging. As we grow old, we can expect hemorrhage in a small level that will likely to happen in our eyes blood vessels due to wear and tear. After the hemorrhage happen, the blood clot will float freely in the vitreous humor in the eyes and those blood clots in very tiny particles are what we are seeing as floaters in the eye. These tiny particles will show in our eye’s line of sight but we will hardly see it. The only way to notice it is if we stop for a while and focus aimlessly on bright areas such as a white wall or the clear blue sky.

Besides from aging, other cause of floaters in the eye are deficiencies from zinc or copper. If floaters in the eye appear more visible, have them checked by an eye doctor. To prevent this, you may eat fruits which have a high Rutin content. Rutin is found in vitamin C and it helps cells to be stronger in order to avoid minor breakage of blood vessels. The highest concentration of Rutin is found on the white part of the skins of citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons.

Remember, while floaters in the eyes are curable thru surgery, It’s not yet fully accepted by the community perhaps due to the connected risks of doing it. For the mean time, prevention is your best option so start eating foods which are high in Rutin.  You may recomend this to others you know in addition if ofthers suffer from other eye issues like  color blindness, cataracts or eye glaucoma.  Eating Healthy and plenty of sleep is always the best healer for the body

I have a history of retinal detachment so I know I am prone to having eye floaters. What can I do to prevent them?

Nancy
Las Vegas, NV

Hi Nancy, good question! Since you know that eye floaters don’t have a known cure, it is wise to prevent or reduce the risk that they will happen. These floaters are caused by micro retinal hemorrhage of the blood vessels behind the eye. After the bleeding stops, the blood clot detaches from the blood vessel and “float” within the vitreous humor of the eye. The gel-like clot is not really floating for it is inside the eye and can be quite a nuisance if it is ever stuck in your field of vision. Usually, the brain helps the eyes adapt from eye floaters and you would only see them if you concentrate see it. Luckily, there are ways to lessen the risk of having eye floaters and here’s a few:

1. If you have zinc and copper deficiency, you have a higher chance of getting eye floaters. Get a check up from a doctor once in a while and see if you have enough zinc and copper levels in the body.

2. Eat lots of foods which contain Rutin. Rutin is a molecule of Vitamin C and it helps to fortify cell to cell connections in the body. This in turn helps prevent the quick wear and tear of all blood vessels in the whole body. Although Rutin can be bought in pharmacies and health stores, it is best to get it the natural way. Eat citrus fruits, cook foods which require citrus fruit’s rind, or eat buckwheat. They are all high in Rutin and can help prevent eye floaters.

3. People with high blood pressure are more prone to eye floaters since they require medicines which have blood thinners such as aspirin and Tylenol. To prevent these, eat right and live right. Preventing the core problem is usually the best cure.