Doctors of Optometry – Eating for Your Eyes

Posted on May 26, 2023 (April 22, 2024) by Dr. Holly Ternus

On this episode, Dr. Bateman discusses the importance of diet and eye health with Amber Pankonin, RD, a registered dietitian and personal chef.

Hosted by Dr. Andrew Bateman and Amber Pankonin, RD.

Can an unhealthy diet increase your risk of vision problems? And what about the age-old myth that eating carrots can help improve your eyesight?

On this episode, Dr. Bateman discusses the importance of diet and eye health with Amber Pankonin, RD, a registered dietitian and personal chef.

Dr. Bateman: “Nutrition researchers have found some very reliable connections between eye health and nutrients from whole foods in your diet. In fact, research suggests that a high-fat diet of processed foods may increase the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.”

Amber Pankonin – “We eat often WITH our eyes, but should eat FOR our eyes”

Take a listen to Episode 2 of Beyond 20/20 from NOA.

Categories

Written by Dr. Holly Ternus

Dr. Holly Ternus is originally from Torrington, Wyoming, and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in biological sciences. She graduated with Honors from The New England College of Optometry and completed internships with Honors at South Boston Community Health Center with an emphasis in glaucoma and narrow-angle glaucoma, Togus Veterans Affairs Medical Center with an emphasis in ocular disease, Lifetime Eyecare in Houston fitting specialty contact lenses, and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

Dr. Ternus practiced with ophthalmology in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, specializing in ocular disease, dry eye disease, and emergency care. She then transitioned into primary care, fitting specialty contacts for keratoconus, post-RK, corneal ectasia, and irregular corneas.

Dr. Ternus is an active member of the Nebraska Optometric Association, American Optometry Association, and American Academy of Optometry. She received her fellowship with the American Academy of Optometry in 2018 and is a graduate of the Nebraska Optometric Association’s Leadership Institute. She also received her fellowship in the Scleral Lens Education Society and is the first in Nebraska to have completed this honor.

Outside of work, Dr. Ternus enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 children, snowboarding, skiing, water sports, watching Husker football, and everything that involves being outdoors.

Our Services

Eye Disease Management

Low Vision

Scleral Contact Lenses

Sports Vision

Dry Eye Therapy

Vision Therapy for Trauma

Vision Therapy

Vision therapy is an effective, non-surgical, doctor-supervised treatment that retrains the brain and eyes to work together more efficiently. Rather than compensate for vision problems, vision therapy aims to treat and correct the visual system itself.

Discover how we can help you or your child overcome vision problems such as strabismus and amblyopia, and build a greater sense of confidence. Take our vision therapy quiz today!

Learn More