Nowadays more than ever, the old adage "you are what you eat" holds. Medical research is demonstrating that with the proper diet, almost all physical ailments can be prevented and treated, from allergies to heart disease to cancer. Eye floaters are no different. Often the cause of eye floaters is an age-related change in the consistency and fluidity of the vitreous humor (the liquid inside your eyes). And, just like you can protect your cardiovascular system from age-related damage by making sure you get the proper nutrients, so you can prevent damage to the vitreous humor. Indeed, a main part of the dietary advice on preventing eye floaters is similar to that on preventing heart disease. Namely, you want to prevent inflammation and damage by free radicals. Therefore, make sure you include lots of seafood and oily fish in your diet. These are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which have potent anti-inflammatory action in the body. If you don't like fish, you are strongly encouraged to take a daily omega 3 supplement.

Make sure you eat lots of fruits and vegetables, as these are rich in anti-oxidants that protect against damage by free radicals. Specifically, you want to include foods that contain two unique anti-oxidants: lutein and zeaxanthin. These two anti-oxidants are accumulated in the eyes and have been shown to confer a protective effect (like a shield) to the eye. Foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin include kale, collard, turnip, romaine lettuce, broccoli, corn, garden peas and Brussels sprouts.

In addition, you should include foods rich in beta carotene and vitamin A (beta carotene is a precursor of vitamin A). Vitamin A is crucial for safeguarding eye health and good vision. Liver is the number one best source of vitamin A; other good sources include carrots, broccoli, kale, pumpkin, eggs broccoli and peas. Three other important vitamins for preventing and curing eye floaters are vitamins C, E and D. Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant and is crucial for the production and repair of collagen, a connective tissue found in joints, ligaments, various eye structures and in the vitreous humor. Most fruits and vegetables are good sources of this vitamin, but notable examples include citrus fruits, chili pepper, kiwifruit and broccoli.

Vitamin E is also an anti-oxidant, but it works mostly within fatty tissues and is found in fatty foods such as plant oils, nuts and avocados. Vitamin E helps to safeguard the eyes against degenerative conditions, including eye floaters. Vitamin D plays a multitude of roles in the body, including preventing the degradation of body tissues such as the vitreous humor. Getting a good amount of this vitamin daily can help you remain eye floaters-free. There are only a handful of food sources of this vitamin (namely liver, egg yolk and oily fish), but you can synthesis the vitamin in your skin on exposure to sunlight (but be careful not to get too much sunlight!).


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