Vitamins for Eyes

Vitamins for eyes are undoubtedly inevitable and they are the ones which can help our eyes stay healthy for a longer period of time. Not only this, adequate vitamins also prevent numerous illnesses…

As an integral part of a balanced diet, vitamins are something which must not be a subject of inadequacy. Deficiencies of such nutrients in the body, not only lead to several eye diseases, but also make way for bouts of other medical conditions in the body. As a popular example, deficiency of vitamin A, may lead to the development of night-blindness (inability to see clearly in dim light; due to a deficiency of vitamin’A or to a retinal disorder) and keratomalacia (softening and drying and ulceration of the cornea resulting from vitamin’A deficiency). Vitamins for eyes work best when accompanied by other antioxidants and trace minerals. So, let’s browse through the best vitamins for eyes and about the elements which can add to their efficacy.

Best Vitamins for Eyesight Vitamin A Attributed as the queen vitamin for eye care, vitamin A is an antioxidant in itself, which contributes to the proper functioning of the retina. In other words, this vitamin helps the eyes adjust to light changes, which occur when a person comes from a bright environment to a darker one. It is essential for the rods and cones within the retina to be able to communicate light changes to the nervous system.

Deficiency of vitamin A, as mentioned, most commonly leads to night-blindness. This can further lead to conditions such as xerophthalmia (abnormal dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eyes), corneal ulcers and swollen eyelids, if the deficiency is not corrected in time. Studies report that, extreme deficiency of vitamin A has been one of the major causes of blindness in developing nations. Apart from preventing these illnesses, vitamin A helps in keeping conditions such as cataracts and blindness from macular degeneration (eye disease caused by degeneration of the cells of the macula’lutea and results in blurred vision), at bay. Read more on food sources of vitamin A

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Vitamin C Another antioxidant among the vitamins for eyes, is vitamin C

, also known as ascorbic acid. This water-soluble vitamin helps in the maintenance of collagen which is found in the cornea of the eyes and promotes the delicate capillaries in the retina. Consumption of this vitamin, is also known to prove helpful in preventing occurrence of cataract and blindness from macular degeneration. As vitamin C aids in elevating acidity in the blood, it encourages the reduction of intraocular pressure which is associated with the development of glaucoma (an eye disease that damages the optic nerve and impairs vision). Learn more on sources of vitamin C.

Vitamin E Even vitamin E is considered one of the important vitamins for eyes. This fat soluble vitamin is another antioxidant, which protects the eyes from free radical damage. Apart from curbing the risk to develop cataract and macular degeneration, vitamin E

also encourages visual clarity.

Vitamin E deficiency may cause abnormal eye movements and impaired vision. Here’s more on foods containing vitamin E

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Apart from all these essential vitamins for eyes, other minerals and substances which promote eye health include beta-carotene, selenium, chromium, zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin. Now, here is a table below of food and vitamins to improve eyesight.

Vitamins for Eyes

Food Sources

Vitamin A

Cod liver oil

Liver pat

Liver sausage

Liver, beef

Liver, chicken

Carrot

Sweet potato

Kale

Butternut squash

Red pepper (sweet)

Mango

Faggots

Fresh creams (pasteurised)

Spinach

Apricots

Mangoes

Watercress

Paprika

Cantaloupe

Vitamin C

Peppers

Rose hip extracts

Raspberry

Lychees

Blackcurrant

Guava

Orange

Lemon

Strawberry

Lemon

Grapefruit

Peaches

Mangoes

Spring greens

Brussels sprouts

Broccoli

Curly Kale

Gourd

Cauliflower

Tomato

Green cabbage

Potatoes

Vitamin E

Sunflower seeds

Almonds, dried, unblanched

Hazelnuts, dried, unblanched

Peanuts

Cottonseed oil

Wheat germ

Rapeseed oil

Cod liver oil

Mayonnaise

Soya bean oil

Peanut oil

Brazil nuts

Sweet potato

Walnuts

Avocado

So these are some of the good sources of vitamins for eyes, which you can benefit from. However, if your diet is not sufficient enough to provide you with the required vitamins, then you must consider adding vitamin supplements to the diet. Consulting with your physician would be a wise idea to prevent any sort of mishaps arising from incorrect administration of these supplements. So, ‘How to use vitamins for healthy eyesight?’ Is that what you are thinking? Well, just boost your diet with all the different kinds of foods listed above.