I Just Dropped P10,000 on Glasses: Here’s My Diet Plan to Make Them Last.

Two weeks ago, I walked out of the optical shop a little clearer in vision, but 10,000 pesos poorer.

That is how much it cost to upgrade my eyeglasses this year. As an IT professional, I accepted it as a necessary business expense. I can’t code, analyze systems, or write this blog if I can’t see the monitor. My eyes are my primary input devices, and apparently, maintaining them is getting expensive.

While I was staring at the receipt, I realized something: I can buy new lenses, but I can’t buy a new retina.

Then, I saw a viral post on social media listing "Superfoods for Eye Health." Usually, I scroll past these. But with a fresh P10k dent in my wallet, I paid attention. The list included simple things: Sweet Potato, Avocado, Salmon, Broccoli, Walnut, Spinach, Carrot, Strawberry, and Blueberry.

I decided to run a "System Diagnostic." Are these just random healthy foods, or do they actually contain the specific hardware patches my eyes need? And crucially—when is the best time to eat them?

Here is my analysis of the 9 foods I’m adding to my diet to protect my 10,000-peso investment.

1. The "Night Mode" Enablers: Carrots & Sweet Potatoes (Kamote)

The Component: Beta-Carotene (Vitamin A)

We’ve all heard the myth: "Eat carrots and you'll see in the dark." It turns out, the source code on this is true. Both are loaded with Beta-Carotene, which converts to Vitamin A—critical for rhodopsin, a protein that helps your eyes absorb light.

• Best Time to Deploy: Mid-Afternoon Snack (3:00 PM)
• Why: Kamote is a complex carbohydrate. Eating boiled kamote or carrot sticks during your afternoon merienda gives you a steady energy release without the sugar crash of biscuits or soda. It keeps your vision sharp as the sun goes down.

2. The Internal "Blue Light Filter": Spinach & Broccoli

The Components: Lutein & Zeaxanthin

I paid extra for the "Blue Light Filter" coating on my new lenses. But did you know you can eat a biological filter, too? These antioxidants deposit themselves in your retina, acting like internal sunglasses against screen glare.

• Best Time to Deploy: Lunch (12:00 PM)
• Why: Lutein and Zeaxanthin are fat-soluble nutrients, meaning they absorb best when eaten with a bit of oil or fat. Having Ginataang Kalabasa (with spinach) or stir-fried Broccoli for lunch ensures your body actually absorbs the nutrients to protect you during the afternoon work slump.

3. The "Lubrication System": Salmon & Walnuts

The Component: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

This is my biggest struggle: Dry Eye Syndrome. When I stare at screens for 10 hours, I blink way less. My eyes get dry, gritty, and red. Salmon and Walnuts are rich in Omega-3s, which improve the oil layer in your tears.

• Best Time to Deploy:
• Walnuts: Morning Snack (10:00 AM). The healthy fats fuel your brain for deep work sessions.
• Salmon: Dinner (7:00 PM). Omega-3s help with serotonin production, which can actually help improve your sleep quality. Plus, it's a lighter protein that won't sit heavy in your stomach.

4. The "Surge Protectors": Strawberries & Blueberries

The Component: Vitamin C & Anthocyanins

Our eyes produce a lot of waste (free radicals) just by functioning. If you don't clear this "cache," it leads to oxidative stress. Berries are loaded with Vitamin C, essential for making the collagen that holds your eyes together.

• Best Time to Deploy: Breakfast (7:00 AM)
• Why: Start your system with a high-antioxidant boost. Adding berries to your oatmeal or yogurt first thing in the morning primes your body to fight off the oxidative stress you'll face throughout the day.

5. The "Legacy Support": Avocado

The Component: Vitamin E

We often focus on the retina, but what about the rest of the eye cells? Avocados are rich in Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that protects fatty acids from oxidation. Since our eyes are highly concentrated with fatty acids, Vitamin E acts like a long-term support contract.

• Best Time to Deploy: Dinner or Dessert
• Why: Avocado is rich in magnesium, which promotes muscle relaxation. Eating a simple avocado (maybe with a little milk, but watch the sugar!) in the evening can help relax your body—and your eye muscles—before bed.

Finally: Protect the Hardware

I don’t want to go back to the optical shop next year and be told my grade jumped up again.

I’ve accepted that I need glasses to work. But by feeding my body the right raw materials at the right time, I’m giving my eyes a fighting chance against the digital strain I put them through every day.

The glasses cost me P10,000. The Kamote costs me P20. I think the math is pretty clear.

Have you checked your eye grade recently?

Which of these "Eye Foods" do you actually like eating?

Let me know in the comments below!