Eyesight is one of the most important senses in the human body, and it is essential to properly care for it. Proper eye care protects the eyes and reduces the chances of vision loss and blindness. One of the million ways to care for your eye health is by getting vitamins.
These vitamins contain nutrients that are very helpful for the eyes. Certain conditions can cause or impact your eye health, such as age-related macular degeneration, strabismus, refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
Vitamins can influence these conditions, protect your eyes against such conditions, and possibly make your eyesight clear. I have personally taken my time to provide you with some of the best vitamins for eye health in this blog post.
What Are Eye Health Vitamins?
As mentioned earlier, the eyes are one of the most important organs in the human body and must be taken care of with the utmost attention. Certain vitamins are very good for the eyes.
These vitamins provide enough nutrients that can protect the eyes from a certain disease or even reduce the effect of such a disease. Eye vitamins are supplements that are in the form of pills that add more nutrients and nourishment to the body.
Eye health vitamins can help your eyesight improve and give you clearer vision. They are essential for preventing common eye diseases like glaucoma, strabismus, diabetic retinopathy, and others.
Why Do You Need Vitamins for Eye Health?
If you want to improve your eyesight to have clearer vision, you need vitamins for your eyes. Research has shown that a high dosage of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene can reduce the risk of blindness from age-related macular degeneration.
The eye needs vitamin A the most because, with vitamin A, the production of pigment in the eye can make it possible to see the full spectrum of light. In addition, it nourishes several parts of the eye.
How Do Vitamins for Eye Health Work?
Vitamins for eye health work in several ways. This is because they perform several functions. Eye vitamins are in the form of pills that deliver nutrients that make the body nourished. They protect the eyes from age-related diseases and reduce the effects of such diseases.
These vitamins can also be found in certain foods such as carrots, nuts and legumes, fish, citrus fruits, sweet potatoes, beef, leafy green vegetables, and others. This food contains several vitamins, which work in several ways.
What Are the Best Vitamins for Eye Health?
Several vitamins are very important for the eyes, each with its own functions. These vitamins add more nutrients to the body, and they can slow the effects of age-related diseases or even prevent them. These vitamins can be found in most foods, and they all have different functions. Take citrus.
For example, vitamin C can be found in all citrus fruits and vitamin A is found in carrots. Vitamin C contains nutrients like zeaxanthin and lutein, which are very good for your eyes. Other vitamins are good for eye health, and they include:
Vitamin A
Vitamin A contains some antioxidant properties. This antioxidant slows down oxidative damage to the cells and DNA, which plays a crucial role in several age-related conditions. Vitamin A plays an important role in vision by keeping a clear cornea that is outside the covering of the eye.
A protein like Rhodopsin can be found in Vitamin A, which enables us to easily see in low light conditions. Lack of Vitamin A can lead to conditions like xerophthalmia, which starts as night blindness. If the lack of Vitamin A continues, it can cause the tear ducts to dry out. Then the cornea softens, which can lead to permanent blindness.
Furthermore, vitamin A fights against diseases such as eye afflictions. A high intake of foods with vitamin A can reduce the risk of age-related conditions and cataracts. For healthy eyes, foods that contain vitamin A are highly recommended. Foods such as;
- Bell peppers
- Leafy green vegetables
- Sweet potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Eggs
- Beef liver
Vitamin B3, B6, B9 and B12
Vitamin B contains nutrients that can fight against AMD. It is made up of several vitamins that protect the eyes. All these vitamins combined can reduce the level of homocysteine. This is a protein in the body that can be associated with an increased danger of developing AMD.
To reduce the dangers of developing AMD, it is wise to take 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 with other vitamins such as B6 and B9. Foods that contain vitamin B:
- Eggs and dairy products
- Fruits
- Seeds and nuts
- Legumes
- Whole grains
- Meat dark
- Leafy vegetables
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that can protect the eyes from damaging free radicals. It is also used in AREDS supplements that can be useful to those with AMD. A daily intake of AREDS can reduce the dangers of AMD. Vitamin C is also necessary for the production of collagen. Collagen is a protein that offers structure to the eye, especially in the sclera and cornea.
Research has shown that Vitamin C can help reduce the dangers of developing cataracts. This is a condition that impairs vision and makes the eye cloudy. Constant consumption of foods with vitamin C can reduce cataracts by 45%. Foods such as:
- Broccoli
- Tomatoes
- Oranges
- White potatoes
- Grapefruit
- Bell peppers
Vitamin E
Several eye conditions are associated with oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant that protects the cells, including the eye cells, against damage by free radicals, which are dangerously unstable molecules.
Based on research, a constant intake of 400 IU of vitamin E along with other nutrients such as AREDS supplements can lower the risk of AMD progressing to advanced stages and also prevent age-related conditions. In other words, a diet with enough vitamin E is highly recommended to maintain a clear vision. Food that contains Vitamin E:
- Almonds
- Pumpkin
- Wheat germ oil
- Peanuts
- Beet greens
- Sunflower
- Soybean oil
Riboflavin
This is another vitamin B that is related to eye health. Riboflavin is an antioxidant that has the potential to lower oxidative stress in the body, which includes the eyes. Regular food that contains riboflavin reduces the risk of cataract development. Foods that contain riboflavin are:
- Milk
- Beef
- Chicken breast
- Oats
- Salmon
- Fortified cereals
- Eggs
- Yogurt
Are Eye Vitamins Worth It?
Most people take their eye health for granted until there is a problem. Research has shown that lots of people will suffer from an uncorrectable impairment of their vision. Now you see why eye vitamins are worth it. You can avoid being in this category by taking your eye health more seriously.
Certain vitamins are good for the eyes. These vitamins can prevent or reduce eye disease and add more nutrients to the body.