Many people have heard eating carrots is the key to good eyesight, but there are lots of other foods you can eat to promote good eye health. At Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates, the best eye doctors in Aiea, Hawaii, the team of expert optometrists wants to help you protect your eyes, and good vision starts with the food on your plate.

Eating a well-balanced diet will keep your eyes healthy and your vision sharp. Here are five foods the optometrists at Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates recommend eating for optimum eye health:

• Leafy Greens: Green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards, are packed with lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that lower your risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts.

• Eggs: Egg yolk is another good source of lutein and zeaxanthin. Eggs also contain a lot of zinc, which helps reduce your risk of macular degeneration.

• Citrus: Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices are chock full of vitamin C, which reduces your risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts.

• Almonds: One handful of almonds will give you half your daily value of vitamin E, which slows macular degeneration.

• Fish: Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish are high in DHA, a fatty acid found in your retina. Eat fatty fish to keep your DHA levels high. Low levels are linked to dry eye syndrome.

To ward off age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts, the eye doctors at Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates recommend a diet full of nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E. Regularly eating these foods will also help you maintain a healthy weight, which makes you less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, the leading cause of blindness in adults.

For more information about how to maintain good eye health, visit the Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates website or call the best eye doctors in Aiea at (808) 487-5500.