From Nutrition to Robotics: Modern Advances in Eye Health, Part 1

Integrative ophthalmologist Dr. Rudrani Banik previews Eye Summit 2026, a free online event May 11–15 featuring four daily expert sessions on dry eye and ocular surface disease, cataract surgery advances (including robotic and AI-assisted planning), gut health links to eye disease, and mind-body approaches for migraine, concussion, and visual snow, with VIP options for recordings and live panels. They discuss photobiomodulation (red/infrared/yellow light) as an FDA-approved treatment for age-related macular degeneration with clinical trials showing safety and potential vision improvement, plus research on low-level red light for pediatric myopia. Banik emphasizes annual dilated eye exams after 40 to detect glaucoma and systemic disease. The episode covers dry eye nutrition (dietary omega-3s; supplements including GLA and omega-7; lutein/zeaxanthin with vitamin D), preservative concerns (BAK), GLP-1 drug associations with NAION, gene therapy delivery via viral vectors, and macular degeneration prevention with lutein/zeaxanthin-rich foods like kale, colored peppers, and egg yolks.