Grapes and Vision
摘要
This chapter explores the relationship between ocular health and dietary antioxidants, focusing on their roles in maintaining eye health and mitigating oxidative-stress-related eye pathologies. The discussion begins with an overview of ocular anatomy and nutrient distribution, highlighting the unique nutrient needs of different eye structures. Oxidative stress is identified as a central contributor to many ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts, with a detailed examination of the mechanisms underlying these conditions. The chapter further delves into the protective mechanisms of antioxidants in ocular health, emphasizing their ability to neutralize reactive oxygen species and support cellular defense systems. Dietary antioxidants, such as vitamin A, lutein/zeaxanthin, and polyphenols, are presented as key contributors to eye health. Special attention is given to dietary polyphenols, particularly from grapes, which exhibit potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce oxidative stress, modulate advanced glycation end products, and enhance retinal functions; this highlights grapes as a promising dietary strategy for mitigating age-related and oxidative-stress-driven ocular diseases.