Nowadays, cataract is a common age-related eye condition that is affecting both men and women of higher age.
With the age, the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, and thus it affects the clarity of your vision. The cataract surgery is the only definitive treatment as suggested by top eye specialists in India.
However, if you take the right diet, then it also plays an important role in faster recovery, reducing complications, and supporting long-term health of your eyes.
In this blog post on diet for cataract patient, we will touch base on all the facts related to the diet and nutrition for your eyes if you are affected with cataract.
This blog post is written by top eye specialist in Nanded, Dr. Nikhil Govindwar. So, let’s get started with a little intro on how diet plays an important role in health of your eyes.
How Diet is important for Healthy Eyes ?
A healthy diet is very important in maintaining good vision for both of your eyes. A healthy diet is also important for preventing any eye-related problems.
Your eyes require multiple vital nutrients for their proper functioning. This includes nutrients such as vitamin A. Vitamin A is commonly found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach.
Vitamin A is helpful for your eyes to maintain a clear cornea and maintain good vision. Apart from vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E are useful for your eyes to protect against damage from free radicals.
In addition, omega-3 fatty acids, which you can get from fish, flaxseed, and walnut, help in supporting the health of your retina in the eyes.
These nutrients help reduce the risk of macular degeneration and hence the cataract. If you include these nutrients in your daily meals, then you are not only nourishing your body but also helping your eyes to stay healthy and you get a sharp vision for many years to come.
Is Specific Diet for Cataract Patient Really Required ?
A specific cataract diet is not a kind of mandatory requirement for cataract patient.
However, if you eat the right foods then it can definitely help in maintaining the health of your eyes and may also slow down cataract progression.
As mentioned earlier, various vitamins are important for maintaining your eyes healthy such as vitamin C which is found in citrus fruits, bell peppers, vitamin E which is found in nuts, seeds, and spinach, and omega-3 fatty acid provides antioxidant protection and also help reduce oxidative stress.
The cataract surgery is definitely a best treatment for cataract patients in India. A nutrient-rich diet is helpful for overall eye function and keeps your vision healthier for longer.
Good-to-Have Foods to Include in Diet for Cataract Patients
As mentioned earlier, diet is not a mandatory requirement for cataract treatment but if you eat the right foods it can help protect your eyes from further oxidative damage.
Nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Omega-3 fatty acids play a role in maintaining lens clarity and reducing the risk of cataract progression.
If you include antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory diet foods, then it can provide the eyes with natural protection against free radicals.
Below are some of the good foods to include in your diet for cataract patient in India.
Leafy Green Vegetables (Spinach, Kale, Fenugreek) – Rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, these help filter harmful blue light and protect eye tissues from oxidative stress.
Citrus Fruits (Oranges, Lemons, Grapefruit) – High in Vitamin C, which supports collagen in the eye and helps slow cataract progression.
Carrots – Packed with beta-carotene, which converts into Vitamin A, essential for overall vision health.
Fish (Salmon, Tuna, Mackerel) – Contain omega-3 fatty acids that reduce inflammation and support retinal function.
Almonds & Sunflower Seeds – Good sources of Vitamin E, which helps protect lens cells from oxidative damage.
Eggs – Contain lutein, zeaxanthin, and zinc, which promote healthy lenses and reduce the risk of cataracts.
Tomatoes – Provide lycopene and Vitamin C, offering antioxidant protection for the eyes.
Whole Grains (Brown Rice, Oats) – Rich in Vitamin E, zinc, and niacin, supporting overall eye metabolism.
Foods to Avoid in Diet for Cataract Patients
As we mentioned earlier, a specific diet isn’t the primary factor in cataract recovery. Similar like we mentioned some good to have foods in your diet for cataract recovery, there are certain foods to avoid during recovery period after your cataract surgery in Nanded Maharashtra.
These foods in your daily meals can cause unnecessary discomfort, indigestion, or slow down your healing process in the early days of your cataract operation in India.
If you are able to avoiding these, then it will certainly will help keep your digestion light and reduce any strain on your body, allowing it to focus on recovery.
Below are some foods to avoid if possible in early days after your cataract operation in India.
Very sour foods – Items like curd, citrus fruits, and pickles can cause slight irritation or discomfort post-surgery. These can be reintroduced later in moderation.
Hard-to-bite foods – Nuts, hard chapatis, and tough meats may be difficult to chew and can cause strain, especially if you’re adjusting to post-surgery dietary habits.
Overly spicy or oily food – Excess spices and oils may trigger acidity, bloating, or stomach upset, which is best avoided during healing.
Difficult-to-digest foods – Fried snacks, heavy gravies can overload the digestive system and slow down nutrient absorption.
Excess sugar – Particularly important for diabetic patients, as high sugar levels can interfere with healing. Stick to your prescribed diabetic diet if applicable.
Advice from Top Nutritionist in India - Dt. Foram Modi
As per leading dietitian in Mumbai – Dt. Foram Modi, your daily diet plays a crucial role in maintaining not just your overall health, but also the health of your eyes.
It is very important to eat a balanced diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats is a simple yet powerful way to keep your eyes healthy for years to come.
In addition, eating fresh, home-cooked meals (ghar ka khana) ensures that you get clean, nutrient-rich food without unnecessary preservatives.
As a founder of Makes You Eat by Dt. Foram Modi, she constantly advise her clients in creating tasty yet nutrient-packed recipes.
These recipes include leafy greens, colorful vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and omega-3-rich foods to support eye health. In addition, she recommends people to stay up to date with new healthy recipes, experiment in your kitchen, and read more about diet tips to stay updated.
If you are still not sure about how bad diet affects your body, then here is what Dt. Foram Modi says –
if you have a wrong diet, then all the disorders will start to come starting from your digestive system. If you make poor dietary choices, it can lead to deficiencies, makes your immunity weak and disrupt metabolism
Conclusion - Diet for Cataract Patients in Maharashtra India
The cataract disorder in India cannot be completely prevented with diet but the right nutrition will help in significantly slow their progression.
The right diet for cataract patient will also support overall eye health. We have seen the foods which are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids helps protect the lens from damage and maintains clearer vision for longer.
As a top cataract specialist in Nanded, Maharashtra, Dr. Nikhil Govindwar advices regular eye check-ups and medical guidance and a balanced diet will play a key role in overall protection of your eyesight. Hope this article helped you.
About Author - Dr. Nikhil Govindwar
Dr. Nikhil Govindwar is a highly experienced ophthalmologist and eye surgeon in Nanded, Maharashtra, India. He is a specialist eye surgeon for cataract surgery and advanced eye care treatments.
He has a strong academic credentials in ophthalmology and years of practical experience in treatment of Eyes. He has successfully done 10000+ successful eye surgeries and solved vision problems.
Dr. Nikhil Govindwar is skilled in modern cataract surgery techniques, including phacoemulsification and advanced intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
He is an MBBS Graduate with DNB in Ophthalmology with 13+ years of experience as Eye specialist in India.
He is a proud founder of his Eye speciality Hospital in Nanded, Krishna Netralaya, Nanded Waghala where he treats all types of eye disorders and performs surgeries including Cataract surgery in Nanded.
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