1. Vitamin A
Vitamin A deficiency is rare in developed countries, but if unaddressed can lead to a serious condition called xerophthalmia. Vitamin A may also help protect against other eye afflictions. For general eye health, vitamin-A-rich foods are recommended over supplements.
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source, as are leafy green vegetables, pumpkins and bell peppers Summary Severe vitamin A deficiency can lead to xerophthalmia, a serious condition that can result in blindness.
Overview
Robably heard someone say, “Eat your carrots, they’re good for your eyes.” You may have also seen advertisements for nutritional supplements for eye health.
Can Vitamins And Minerals Benefit Your Eye Health And Vision?
Keep reading to learn more about supplements and eye health. Plenty of claims are made about the positive effects of supplements on vision and eye health, but very few research studies support these claims. The studies focused on two conditions that affect millions of Americans, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.
Amd occurs when there’s deterioration of light-sensitive cells in the macula area of the retina. It may impair your ability to see well enough to perform daily tasks and can become worse over time. Cataracts are extremely common, particularly among older adults.
Recommended supplements
AREDS and AREDS2 looked at the effects of high doses of several antioxidants taken together for several years. The final recommendations from AREDS2 were:
vitamin C 500 mg vitamin E 400 IU lutein 10 mg zeaxanthin 2 mg zinc 80 mg copper 2 mg (taken to prevent copper deficiency caused by zinc)
This supplement formulation is available in capsule form and is usually taken twice daily. Each participant took the supplement daily for five years.
In people with AMD, the condition was slowed only in people with moderate AMD. Additionally, supplements used in the study did not prevent AMD or restore vision los.
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Vision Supplements In Multivitamins
You may also have heard a lot of claims for over-the-counter (OTC) vision supplements containing these nutrients — and claims for others that have not been tested in clinical studies.
What Can You Do To Protect Your Eye Health And Eyesight Using Vision Supplements?
Regardless of dosage, supplements are not a cure for health problems or a substitute for medication your doctor has recommended.