Farmgirl Networking: Wellness Wednesday

Well, it is official. The doctor said it last year and its truth is still rumbling around in my brain. I couldn't believe my ears - or my eyes.

I am old. The eye doctor diagnosed one of my eyes has a cataract! Only people 70ish or older get cataracts! When did I get old people eyes? Momma and Daddy both had theirs done when they were in their 70s.

I am a researcher by heart, so I started digging into Google. Isn't

that where everyone starts their searches? I found lots of information about what happens during surgery. That information is a little bit of "too much information."

But one thing I found was that there has been a few studies done that links LASIK surgery and early on-set cataracts. And of course, I jumped on the LASIK bandwagon a few years after it became a trend. Because my vision was so bad, (my husband had to find my glasses when I knocked them on the floor) I really looked forward to being able to see. And after surgery and for a good 12 years later I was seeing well.

The articles I was finding also listed things to do to help our eye health. One of the things was taking Omega-3 vitamins. Several studies have found omega-3 fatty acids protect adult eyes from macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome. It may also help reduce the risk of glaucoma, high eye pressure and "wet" macular degeneration.

Now the best way to obtain these is through diet of course. Cold water fish is the best sources - sardines, herring, salmon and tuna.
The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of two

servings of cold-water fish weekly to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and many eye doctors likewise recommend a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids to reduce the risk of eye problems.