DID TEEN REALLY GO BLIND FROM A DIET OF POTATO CHIPS AND FRIES? IF SO, WHAT CAN WE LEARN BY IT?

It was only one incident and there are researchers who question the case study from the Annals of Internal Medicine, but the boy from England was basically eating a diet of mostly French fries and potato chips, began to lose his vision at age 15, and by age 17 he was legally blind.  The cause was optic neuropathy (damage to the optic nerve) created by lack of necessary vitamins and minerals. 
 
Scientists at Tufts University in the U.S. want to know more about how the teen ended up with permanent vision loss from diet alone, since the condition is uncommon and usually temporary.  At the same time, they agree that poor quality diets can increase the risk of vision problems as we get older, including age related macular degeneration (AMD).
 
In studies, people who ate plenty of vegetables, beans, fruits, whole grains, and seafood have a lower risk of AMD.  Those who consumed a diet high in red meat, processed meats, and refined carbohydrates (white bread, chips, crackers, and sweets) have a higher risk of AMD and also some forms of cataracts.  The findings are in line with what we know about food and health in general.
 
Most of the damage to our vision happens slowly over time, and once it occurs, it’s too late to reverse the harm.  To protect your eyes as throughout your lifetime, please choose to eat healthfully now.

Read the article here