Too much sugar and eye health: the risks for the retina
Excessive consumption of sugary foods can affect retinal health, particularly in people with diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
During the summer, people tend to consume more ice cream, sweets, sugary soft drinks, and other sugary treats that often accompany holidays. Enjoying these foods occasionally is perfectly compatible with a balanced diet. However, frequent and excessive sugar intake can have consequences for eye health, according to specialists at Miranza.
As Dr. Xavier Subiràs, a specialist at IMO Grupo Miranza, explains, a diet high in sugar and ultra-processed foods can impair vascular health and, consequently, damage the retina, particularly in people with metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
“The retina is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the body and depends on good blood circulation to function properly. When blood vessels deteriorate due to poor metabolic control, vision can also be affected”, says Dr. Subiràs.
Protecting eye tissues from oxidative stress
During the holidays, it is common to relax eating habits. However, experts remind us that eye health also begins with what we eat. Rather than demonizing a particular food, the key is to maintain a varied and balanced diet in which sweets are consumed only occasionally and do not replace foods that provide essential nutrients for vision. Excessive sugar intake reduces the nutritional quality of the diet and limits the intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are essential for protecting eye tissues against ageing and oxidative stress.
Dr. Xavier Subiràs, specialist at IMO Grupo Miranza, points out that high consumption of sugar and processed foods can be harmful.
“It is not the occasional sweet that poses a problem, but turning excessive sugar consumption into a habit. A diet lacking variety means missing out on essential nutrients needed to protect the retina”, the expert explains. “What really matters is that your daily diet is based on fresh, high-quality foods”, he adds.
Recommended foods
The Mediterranean diet is one of the best allies for preserving eye health. Among the most highly recommended foods are oily fish (rich in omega-3 fatty acids), leafy green vegetables and other antioxidant-rich vegetables, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and extra virgin olive oil.
These foods provide antioxidants, lutein, zeaxanthin, and other compounds that help reduce oxidative stress in the retina and protect its cells against ageing.
Although carrots have traditionally been associated with good eyesight, they are far from the only food that benefits eye health. “Vegetables, in general, provide antioxidants that help protect eye health. We should not focus solely on carrots, but rather on maintaining a rich and varied diet”, explains Dr. Subiràs.
Article reviewed by Dr. Xavier Subiràs, specialist at IMO GrupoMiranza