Hopefully by the end of this article you’ll have no doubts about this subject.
1. Vitamin A
Vitamin A deficiency is rare in developed countries, but if unaddressed can lead to a serious condition called xerophthalmia. If vitamin A deficiency continues, your tear ducts and eyes can dry out. Some studies suggest that diets high in vitamin A may be associated with a reduced risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) For general eye health, vitamin-A-rich foods are recommended over supplements. Summary Severe vitamin A deficiency can lead to xerophthalmia, a serious condition that can result in blindness. In some studies, high amounts of vitamin A intake were associated with a reduced risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
2. B Vitamins
This is because B vitamins reduce your blood levels of homocysteine, an acid that can affect the arteries of your retina and is an independent risk factor for AMD. A deficiency in B vitamins can also lead to problems with the optic nerve, the tissue responsible for taking the images from the eye to the brain. In severe deficiency, it can cause reduced vision or blind spots.
Here’s how you can get more Vitamin B6, a crucial B vitamin:
Yuqing Liu/Insider.
3. Vitamin C
Cataracts, the cloudy areas that develop on the lens of your eye, are among the most common reasons your vision can get worse as you get older. Related Why antioxidants are so important to your overall health
Antioxidants help protect against free radicals that can cause changes to the lens in your eye, leading to a cloudy appearance that disrupts your vision.
Studies also show that vitamin C can also help slow the progression of AMD by strengthening the blood vessels in your eye that support the retina. A large 2016 study found that people with higher intake of vitamin C were significantly less likely to suffer from AMD. More research is needed, but some studies suggest that eating a diet rich in vitamin E or taking vitamin E supplements over a long term may help prevent cataracts and AMD.
A large 2005 study found that people who took vitamin E supplements were less likely to develop cloudy eye lenses over the course of 5 years. However, a large 2001 study found that taking a daily 400 IU vitamin supplement had no effect on eye cloudiness. “For most people, the amount of these vitamins that we get from a well-balanced diet is plenty,” Garg says.
But, if you have a serious condition like AMD, your doctor may recommend that you use supplements. “There are high dose vitamins for macular degeneration that are widely available,” Garg says.
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.
Here is information to help you decide. Important: Your doctor is your first resource for information about your health. Regardless of dosage, supplements are not a cure for health problems or a substitute for medication your doctor has recommended.
Always check with your doctor before beginning to take any dietary supplement, including vision supplement.