A new report has laid bare the concerning gaps in Brits’ knowledge regarding eye health nutrition, indicating a national shortfall in understanding how to maintain visual wellbeing.

Titled ‘SEEING SENSE: The Nation’s Eye Health Knowledge And The Impact Of Diet,’ the research was initiated by MacuShield, renowned for their ocular nutritional supplements devised with expert input from ophthalmic professionals.

Speaking on the issue, Suzie Sawyer, a clinical nutritionist and contributor to the MacuShield study, said: “Worryingly, just 48% of Brits say they have an idea how they could support eye health. Hydration is critical for good eyesight (as well as overall health) but there’s still a long way to go in encouraging Brits to drink adequate amounts of water, too.”

The revelation that dehydration can lead to dry eyes, headaches, and blurriness only heightens the importance of this issue, with data showing a concerning decrease in water consumption across the UK.

Suzie said: “Women and older girls should have two litres of water a day while men and older boys should aim for 2.5 litres to help keep the eyes lubricated as well as generally healthy.” She added that recent findings from MacuShield reflect a distressing trend in the nation’s hydration habits.

In startling contrast to previous findings, while previously 29% claimed to imbibe five or more glasses of water daily, this figure has worryingly dipped to just 26%, according to the latest MacuShield tracker data. Additionally, 23% confessed to consuming merely three glasses, and an alarming 15% just one glass per day.

How to get enough water – not just by drinking

Wellness expert Suzie has issued an urgent alert, highlighting just how much Brits are falling short in their water intake: “It’s shocking just how little water Brits are consuming. It should be a non-negotiable to obtain the correct amount of fluid throughout the day. This doesn’t need to be plain water and can include milk, tea, soup, yoghurts and low-calorie drinks for instance.”

As temperatures climb, she advises that hydration becomes even more crucial, encouraging people to frequently sip fluids but limit alcohol, as it saps the body’s moisture: “In warmer weather, our need for fluid increases, so drink often but keep alcohol to a minimum as it dehydrates the body. If you’re someone who doesn’t drink enough, then this is likely one of the easiest changes you can make today to support your health.”

Suzie also points out that many aren’t aware of which nutrients support eye health or which foods contain them. Furthermore, she refers to government statistics showing a shortfall in fruit and vegetable consumption.

She said: “In addition to hydration, there are so many foods which contain the eye health nutrients we all need to be ingesting, but many of us are not necessarily knowledgeable of these nutrients or which foods contain them, plus according to the government National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) most of us do not eat our five fruit and vegetables a day.”

For those struggling with a balanced diet, Suzie suggests considering reputable targeted supplements, while also emphasising the importance of incorporating at least five fruits and vegetables into daily meals: “If you’re not managing to eat healthily, bridging gaps with the appropriate targeted eye supplements such as those in the MacuShield range may be worth considering, alongside a healthy diet with at least five fruits and vegetables a day as well as following a healthy lifestyle.”