What Food To Eat And What To Avoid After LASIK?

What is LASIK?

LASIK stands for laser in-situ keratomileusis, a popular surgery that aims to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. LASIK is one of many surgeries that correct vision by reshaping the cornea, the transparent front part of your eye, so light falls on the retina correctly. People opt for LASIK to get rid of spectacles. 

You may not be able to eat before or after some type of surgery. This is not the case with LASIK. A light meal and plenty of water are encouraged before the procedure. After LASIK, it’s fine to eat, as long as you consume healing foods.

 It is important to eat healthy foods in order to maintain a healthy body. Consuming the right foods can help support the health of your eyes. 

So, the question is:

What food to eat and what to avoid after LASIK surgery? There are no specific food restrictions related to LASIK unless advised otherwise by your doctor. Eating healthy is always encouraged for good healing and here we have a list-

Foods that You Should Eat

1. Whole Grains

In order to bring your vision to its best state, eating whole grains can be extremely beneficial. These foods contain low glycaemic indexes and are recommended by your surgeon after the surgery as opposed to refined carbs and sugary beverages.

Besides vitamin E, zinc and niacin, whole grains contain essential nutrients that are good for your eyes. A few examples include:

• Brown rice 
• Quinoa
• Whole wheat 
• Oats

2. Eggs

If you love eggs, you may add them to your diet. Eggs are a good source of proteins and healthy fats. 

3. Citrus Fruits

A diet rich in vitamin C helps in recovery and healing. Vitamin C is mainly found in citrus fruits. It is best to go natural rather than take multivitamins. 

Some citrus fruits that you can include in your diet:

• Oranges 
• Limes 
• Grapefruits 
• Lemon
• Berries 

4. Leafy Greens

These leafy greens contain antioxidants and some pigments that may delay the ageing of the eye. Vegetables like these can lower your risk of some eye diseases such as cataracts and AMD. Leafy green veggies like broccoli, peas and avocados can also help the eye heal quickly after LASIK surgery. 

5. Carrots

We are all aware of the impact carrots have on the health of our eyes. Carrots are especially helpful after undergoing LASIK. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamins A, C and carotenoids, all of which work to protect your eyes.

6. Nuts

Among the foods that accelerate healing, nuts should not be missed. Nuts are rich in vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids. Eating a handful of nuts every day can be very beneficial for the health of your eyes.

Foods You Should Avoid:

1. Fatty Meats

Red meat and sausage, as well as processed meats high in saturated fat, often contribute to high cholesterol levels. It causes plaque to accumulate in the eye’s macular vessels, which reduces blood flow. Eating fatty meats can raise your risk of developing macular degeneration, a condition that affects the retina and causes vision loss.

2. Junk Food

When eaten in large or moderate amounts, snacks such as chips, cookies and candy can negatively affect your vision. According to studies, the fats in these junk foods are unhealthy for your eyes and can result in eye diseases. As well as the unhealthy fats contained in these foods, the presence of salt and sugar hinders the blood flow to the eyes and affects the health of the body’s organs and circulatory system.

3. Sugar

In addition to being unhealthy for the eyes, a sugar-laden diet is also unhealthy for the body. The constant consumption of large amounts of sugar raises your blood sugar level, which in turn causes eye-related complications. 

4. Fried Foods

When oils are heated and reheated to prepare food, the molecular structure changes, which is bad for our whole body and our eyes are no exception. Fried foods also affect the heart and impair blood circulation, both of which affect the blood supply to the eyes, resulting in blurry vision.

You must provide your eyes with lots of protein and other vital nutrients for healing after LASIK eye surgery. Eggs are a fantastic source of nutritional protein, and they also include healthy nutrients. To my knowledge, lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that may save your eyes from harm, are abundant in eggs. Additionally, these may assist in lowering the risk of cataracts or macular degeneration in older people.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Some Tips for Fast Recovery After LASIK:

It is important for patients to remember certain dos and don’ts after LASIK surgery in the first few days and weeks after the procedure. Here are some of them:

• Wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your eyes from the sun when outside.
• To avoid dry eye attacks, keep liquid tears with you at all times.
• Consider taking a bath instead of a shower, paying close attention to the area around the eyes.
• Do not smoke.
• Do not wear makeup on your eyes.
• Keep your eyes away from smoky, dusty or extremely dry environments that can irritate them or cause dry eyes.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes.

Nuts, especially Brazil nuts and walnuts, are another fantastic source of nutrients for your eyes. They include zinc, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids, which may help aid age-related eye problems and dry eye syndrome.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

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