How did I get here? Although it seems that eyes and nutrition mix like water and oil doctors often discuss the research around nutrients, diets, physical movements and their effects on eye health along with overall health. The biggest hurdle to my goal was/is attaining the credentials to educate those I interact with.

Why nutrition and optometry? Because food is medicine! My job as an optometrist has become an integral piece of diabetic health care and other systemic conditions like high blood pressure. Did you know that the eyes encompass vessels that are typically the first to showcase changes or strain from systemic issues due to changes in the blood. Changes in your nutrition directly contribute to how your body regulates hormones that can decrease and/or prevent damage from diabetes and blood pressure.

Why diabetic care? Once diagnosed with diabetes it is standard of care to have your eyes checked annually for diabetic changes. Understandably I’ve seen a lot of eyes with diabetic changes. However, as an optometrist if changes were noted, there was very little I could do. I’d often say “these changes will resolve in 1-3 months with good blood sugar control” or “this is a referral for a retinal consult” and set a follow up appointment and go on about my day. While effective, this path left me unfulfilled and leaves numerous patients with a burden of care and no easy way to attain treatment.