As a child, I bet you were told to 'eat your carrots up as they help you see in the dark'. As fanciful as this may have seemed to you then, chances are you've grown up to recognise that not only was your mum right, but food really does have a direct impact on your health. What you may not be aware of is the magnificent impact that nutrition has on the health of your eyes and in the prevention and management of many eye disorders.

The 'Nutrition and Eye Health' presentation explained the link between diet and the eyes, focusing on specific foods and nutrients that play fundamental roles in vision. Certain foods and food preparation styles have been shown to be damaging to the health of the eyes – an explanation of these issues was given.

In addition, the talk explored the nutritional link to common eye disorders including:

• Macular degeneration
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Dry eyes
• Floaters

With each of the above conditions, there was a general description of the disorder, a look at the relevant nutritional protocol, an overview of the specific nutrients that research has proven helpful and references to which herbal medicines may play a role in the management of the condition.