Age-related macular degeneration might be irreversible, but leafy greens and eye-healthy veggies may help slow down or ward off blindness entirely.

Here are some foods loaded with carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which help build up pigments in the center of the retina and block blue light. And, because your patients will ask: No, eating a salad every day isn’t the same!

Kale. Just half a cup of cooked kale will cover the recommended daily intake of these nutrients, which is 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin. Bonus: Bake them with olive oil and a pinch of salt, and you’ve got chips!

Spinach. A cup of cooked spinach is another easy way to protect your eyes. Sautee with garlic and olive oil for a side dish, or cook with pasta for an eye-healthy entrée.

Lettuce. A cup of lettuce (romaine, iceberg, etc.) contains 2 mg of carotenoids, and will give your patients a break from the dark greens.

Corn. While a cup of corn only contains .5 mg of eye-healthy nutrients, it also packs B vitamins and Vitamin C, and magnesium and potassium – all good for overall health.

Other eye-healthy foods include collard greens, swiss chard, squash and yellow bell peppers. Share this list with your patients, and send them off to the grocery store after their next exam.

Source: Culture Map