Texas farmer plans crops that can stave off blindness from age-related macular degeneration

The need to eat more veggies and less of everything else is reinforced by a fact that really can make you think twice about what's for dinner. Because you may literally go blind from skipping dark, leafy greens, it's worth looking into how much of these veggies you eat everyday.

Forced to explore all the ways that he can take care of his eyes after a retinal detachment, Texas farmer Marshall Hinsley was impressed by the importance of plant pigments for protecting eyes from the blindness of age-related macular degeneration.

AMD is the leading cause of blindness in people who are 50 years-old or older, and research suggests that the condition may be slowed or even prevented by consuming plant pigments called lutein and zeaxanthin.

But getting enough of these carotenoids into your body takes a daily commitment to eat more dark, leafy greens, corn, squash, peppers and other vegetables full of the substances.

Read more about how you can keep your eyesight healthy in this article at Dallas Culture Map.